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Some local authorities in London are paying lip service to developing preventive care for older people and increasing charges for care services, the King's Fund has found.

Emerging findings from the health think-tank's inquiry into older people's care services in London show that the needs of many older people are not being met due to the lack of a "shared sense" of what services should achieve.

Janice Robinson, King's Fund health and social care senior adviser, said, unless "policy dilemmas" over the balance between home and residential care, funding and the often theoretical commitment to developing preventive care were resolved, services would not improve much.

She said too many councils were unable to invest in preventive care as a result of a lack of money and political pressure to spend more on children's services.

"There is a lot of talk about prevention, but it is mostly crisis care for older people - services are focused on a relatively small number with the most severe needs," she said.

She added that eligibility criteria were becoming tougher while some councils had hiked charges so much that people were unable to afford day and home services.

• Findings at www.kingsfund.org.uk