Scary, depressing and confusing : Voter's view of Social Care revealed.

Alongside the new poll, Help the Aged, Counsel & Care and Carers UK – the three members of the ‘Right care, Right deal’ campaign - are launching a major new report on care and support in England in the 21st century.  Entitled ‘It’s Everybody’s Business’, the report underlines the task Ministers face as they prepare a Green Paper on social care, due early next year.

Paul Cann, Director of Policy & External Relations at Help the Aged comments: “The results of this new research show in the starkest terms that the social care system in England clearly does not have the confidence of the people who will come to need it in older age.  Ministers must now grasp the nettle and show leadership.  The case for reform of social care has been made.  It is now incumbent on the Government to respond in the right way – and to do so quickly. 

“However, it’s not only the Government who must engage with this vital issue.  The ‘Right care, Right deal’ campaign is determined to show that social care is not just a distant concept which can be ignored – it is an issue that affects us all.  It truly is everybody’s business.”

Other key findings of the research include:- 

• Trouble for the future? – An overwhelming 87% of respondents to the ‘Right care, Right deal’ poll said they have not made any plans to pay for personal care in older age.  A meagre 5% of people confirmed they have plans in place already, with just 6% in the process of currently sorting out how they’d finance their care.  Alarmingly, 62% of people said they did not know how much they might need to pay for their social care needs – but this figure dropped to exactly 50% among the 55-64 age group.
• Independent age – 55% of respondents to the poll expect to be still living independently when they are 80.  Over a fifth (28%) expected themselves to be increasingly frail and in need of social care assistance, while only 8% expected to still be working.
• Keeping control – Exactly a third of people (33%) questioned said that the most important aspect of their older age would be the ability to retain control over how they lived their life.  17% said they wanted to stay active more than anything else, with a fifth (20%) saying that seeing family and friends regularly would be most important to them.
• Care generation – Nearly two thirds of respondents (62%) believe that people who need care and support in older age are treated badly or very badly by society.  Only 15% took the opposite view.  Over a fifth of people questioned said that they expected to be caring for relatives or friends once they reached 80 years of age.

Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel & Care said: “It’s worrying that so many people – across different age groups – do not know how they will fund their social care needs when they are older.  Further, the fact that close to nine out of ten respondents have not made any plans to pay for social care shows just how essential it is for the Government to act to create a system which is easier to navigate, which responds to the needs of those that need it and which secures dignity and choice.  There can be no more burying of heads in the sand.”

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK concludes: “Care and caring in older age is a huge political and social issue – but it’s one that too many people haven’t yet grasped.  All of us must wake up to the responsibilities and costs involved. We need to forge a care and support system that is simpler and which values and supports carers far better than today’s hotch-potch of unfair state benefits and often impenetrable advice.  Now really is the time to develop an effective and fair system which promotes health, well-being and independence.”

The ‘It’s Everybody’s Business’ report – published in advance of the political party conferences - calls for:-

• A personalised system which enables people to assess their own needs and to choose the right support;
• An affordable system which is better funded, sustainable and more efficient;
• A supportive system which supports families and unpaid carers as an integral part of the system;
• A preventative system which reaches more people at an earlier stage;
• A fair system which offers individuals a fair, simple and consistent deal;
• An accessible system which is easy to understand, access and use.

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Notes to Editors:

The report ‘It’s Everybody’s Business’ is available by visiting www.rightcare.org.uk 

Case studies available on request. 

ICM interviewed a random sample of 1385 GB adults aged 18-64 via online from 15th – 17th August 2007.  Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.  ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.  Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk

'Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system for older and disabled people, their families and carers. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK’s largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit www.rightcare.org.uk  Members of 'Right care, Right deal' are Counsel and Care, Carers UK and Help the Aged. 

‘FirstStop’ is a single gateway to free, independent information and advice about all aspects of care, housing and finance for older people.  It will equip older people, their families and carers to understand their rights and options and make informed decisions about care, housing and finance.  This collaborative advice service has been launched by Help the Aged, Counsel and Care, the Elderly Accommodation Counsel and NHFA (one of the UK’s leading specialist, independent financial advisors). The FirstStop advice service is delivered through a comprehensive website - www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk - and a single dedicated phone line* (Tel: 0800 377 7070).