Care in Crisis

'Why call it care when nobody cares?'

Day-to-day tasks that many of us take for granted – like getting dressed, using the toilet, making a meal, or getting to the shops – can be almost impossible for many older people without help. Older people should be able to live well, not just survive, and the right care and support can help them do this.

But right now 1.4 million older people are left to struggle each day without that support. We need to ensure they can access the care that will help them stay safe and prevent even more strain on a system that is on the edge of collapse.

A number of issues need to be addressed:

• Underfunding – in the last 5 years there has been a £160 million cut in total public spending on older people’s social care despite a rapidly increasing demand because of our ageing population
• Postcode lottery – despite the 2014 Care Act introducing a national system of eligibility, local variation is still leaving many older people without any support
• Unmet need – 1.2 million people aged 65 plus don't receive the care support they need with essential living activities
• Declining access – cuts in local authority care services have placed increasing pressure on unpaid carers

Age UK National is actively campaigning to put right this scandal which has been neglected for so long.

Please follow the link below to the Age UK National website where you can:

• share your own experience of the crumbling social care system in the UK and put pressure on the Government to improve the system. 
• read the Age UK campaign report about how older people and their families experience the crisis in social care.
• read what other people are telling their MPs about the care crisis and add your message to the campaign.