The Royal Commission on Long Term Care has called for the full implementation of free personal care for older people, as outlined in its 1999 report, writes Natasha Salari.

 While the Scottish executive followed the commission’s recommendations and introduced free personal care last July, in England personal care is still charged for.

The latest statement from the Royal Commission says: “Many of the current generation of older people and their families continue to feel betrayed by the failure of what they had been led to believe was a ‘cradle to grave’ welfare state to fund their care properly.”

 Older people’s charity Help the Aged welcomed the commissioner’s statement and Annie Stevenson, senior policy adviser (health and social care), said the government’s failure to implement some of the commission’s key recommendations at the time was “a missed opportunity”.

 “We would like the government to commit to the principle of free personal care in line with the aims of other UK nations, to set a much needed, clear overall policy direction on long-term care,” she added.

  www.ltc-commissioners.org.uk