Here’s your chance Mr Chancellor to make social care a priority in 2009 Budget
Here’s your chance Mr Chancellor to make social care a priority in 2009 Budget
By Paul Roberts
www.caringforyourbusiness.co.uk
When Chancellor Alistair Darling rises in the Commons at 12.30pm on Wednesday April 22 to unveil the 2009 Budget, how many times will he mention social care?
Once? Twice, perhaps? Or is that too much to hope for? The Telegraph has suggested that Mr Darling may announce more funding for social care and social housing.
Cynical political commentators have warned that the Budget emphasis will be on tax rises and other measures to recover the billions used to ‘bail out’ our banks.
There are fears that there will be little new money to ease the growing pressures on older people – and the deepening crisis facing social care.
Calls for immediate action from the Government have been made by two leading charities – Age Concern/Help the Aged and Counsel and Care.
A plea for £1 billion emergency homecare funding has followed a survey by Age Concern/Help the Aged on the effects of the recession.
The newly-merged charity has revealed how one in five older people in Britain are skipping meals to save money.
Counsel and Care, meanwhile, says the recession is putting increased pressure on older people and their families to sell their homes to pay for care home fees.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has outlined a range of reforms that it believes could make a ‘big difference very quickly, especially to older people’.
Its report – Options for care funding: What could be done now? - unveils the following four-point, £700 million-plus proposals for improvements:
§ Equity release, allowing older homeowners to pay for home-based care by deferring the costs until their home is sold. Estimated cost – £33 million a year
§ Higher capital limits for care home fees to help those with modest assets by raising the ceiling that dictates whether an individual in a care home receives support from a local authority (from £22,250 to £42,500). Cost – £280 million a year
§ Doubling the personal expenses allowance to give more dignity to people in care homes supported by local authorities who currently have just £21.90 per week to cover personal items such as clothes and shoes. Cost – £250 million a year
§ Free personal care for all people requiring nursing care to remove inconsistencies between whether or not nursing care is funded by the NHS or the individual. Cost – £212 million a year
The proposals offer a sensible way forward. The Government would win widespread praise for adopting them.
The cost of putting them into operation would be minimal in comparison to the billions pumped into rescuing our ailing banking system.
So, over to you, Mr Chancellor. Surprise us all and make social care a priority in your 2009 Budget.
Paul Roberts
www.caringforyourbusiness.co.uk
Roberts Consultants, specialists in developing homecare businesses
May 23rd, 2009 at 6:41 pm
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