News

The number of adults in care homes supported by local authorities has risen by seven per cent in the last year due to people on ‘preserved rights’ now being the responsibility of councils.

The total is up by 19,300 to 284,100 this year compared with the previous year. Without people on preserved rights the figure would have fallen by five per cent.

Councils were given responsibility for people with preserved rights two years ago, taking it away from central government.

When the community care regime was introduced with the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 (which came into force in April 1993) local authorities took over responsibility for funding placements in care homes under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948, and were provided with additional funds to do so.

However, almost 300,000 people were excluded from the new regime. These were the people who were already in care homes and were paid for by increased income support awards. They were said to have preserved rights to these awards.