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Overview - Social care for older and disabled people. Gordon Deuchars Age UK London 12 June 2012. Care in the Past. Before the National Health Service: Voluntary and Family Care, “Poor Law” 1948: National Health Service (NHS) is set up: Health care from the NHS is free
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Overview - Social care for older and disabled people Gordon Deuchars Age UK London 12 June 2012
Care in the Past • Before the National Health Service: Voluntary and Family Care, “Poor Law” • 1948: National Health Service (NHS) is set up: • Health care from the NHS is free • “Social care” (long term care) from local Councils is means tested • Social care is different from place to place
Changes in Care for Older and Disabled People • 1950s – Care was mostly given in care homes or other institutions. • Now – most people who get care live at home. • 1950s – most care was done by the Council. • Now – most care is done by businesses or charities. Many people pay for care. • But Councils still pay for care for many people.
Making Care Suit the Person • Disabled people and older people demanded care that gave them what they wanted • In the end the Government listened!
Independent Living Fund (ILF) • The ILF started in 1988. • It provides money for direct payments to disabled people. • People use it to pay for care from an agency, or to employ a Personal Assistant. • The ILF was closed for new applicants in 2010. It will end completely in 2015.
Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People – 2005 • A new Government policy • “disabled people in Britain should have full opportunities and choices toimprove their quality of life and will be respected and included as equal members of society” • The changes included • Helping disabled people to achieve independent living by moving to individual budgets for disabled people
Self directed support and personalisation • Self directed support means helping you choose the support you most need. • You can get a direct payment to buy the support you want. • You can also have a personal budget without having to handle the money yourself. • You have a personal support plan. • Lots of disabled people have personal assistants not carers.
Care in Crisis • Social Care is very short of money and the Government has cut spending. • The number of older people is growing. • Councils have cut back on their care provision. • 800,000 older people who need care get no support from the state. • People are having to pay higher charges for support. • Services for disabled people are being cut too.
What now? • The Government wants to make more changes to the care system. • In 2011 an official committee called the Dilnot Commission wrote a report on how to improve funding for care. • The Government say they are thinking about it. But while they think, the problems get worse. • Older people’s groups and disabled people’s groups are campaigning for a better care system.
What do you think? And thank you for listening! Tel. 020 7820 6770 E-mail gdeuchars@ageuklondon.org.uk