by Stephen BurkeCreating a national care service is key to the country's future. It's also a sign of the ambition behind the care green paper published today (Tuesday 14 July 2009) by the Government.
The bold new proposals to end the postcode lottery in care and make paying for care fairer for everybody have been widely welcomed. Politicians from all parties must now work together in the national care debate, launched today in the green paper, to build a national consensus around tackling one of the biggest issues facing our ageing society.
'Shaping the Future of Care Together' presents some radical long-term proposals to pay for the better care older people and their carers urgently need, particularly for the growing number of older people with dementia, disabilities and long-term conditions.
Counsel and Care favours the comprehensive care funding option - paying for care from people's estates, for example, would be a much fairer option than the current system which means that many older people and their families lose their homes. People on lower incomes currently struggling under the burden of huge care costs would be better supported by the new system.
The proposals meet many of Counsel and Care's tests for a new system which must be simpler, fairer, consistent, transparent and flexible, meeting the needs of older people wherever they live.
Counsel and Care particularly welcomes:
• the proposal for a national care service with a universal entitlement to care and national assessment and portability to end the postcode lottery
• much better provision of information, advice and advocacy to give older people and carers greater choice and control
• closer joint working between health, housing and care services to make the best use of resources
• the emphasis on promoting healthier later life, investing in prevention and supporting older people earlier through schemes like telecare to improve quality of life and save money
• support for better regulation, improved training and career development for the care workforce to deliver better quality care.
• the proposal for a universal deferred payment scheme to help people meet the accommodation costs of residential care.
It will be several years before the green paper proposals become a reality and older people and their families face a growing care crisis today. It is therefore crucial that local authorities and primary care trusts work together now, as set out in the green paper, to make the current care system better by delivering both preventative and personalised care.
Sixty-one years after the NHS was founded, we have the chance to develop the next frontier of the welfare state. Creating a national care service on a par with the NHS is just what this country needs to meet the demands and expectations of our ageing population.
Stephen Burke is Chief Executive of Counsel and Care, the national charity working older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support.
'Shaping the Future of Care Together' presents some radical long-term proposals to pay for the better care older people and their carers urgently need, particularly for the growing number of older people with dementia, disabilities and long-term conditions.
Counsel and Care favours the comprehensive care funding option - paying for care from people's estates, for example, would be a much fairer option than the current system which means that many older people and their families lose their homes. People on lower incomes currently struggling under the burden of huge care costs would be better supported by the new system.
The proposals meet many of Counsel and Care's tests for a new system which must be simpler, fairer, consistent, transparent and flexible, meeting the needs of older people wherever they live.
Counsel and Care particularly welcomes:
• the proposal for a national care service with a universal entitlement to care and national assessment and portability to end the postcode lottery
• much better provision of information, advice and advocacy to give older people and carers greater choice and control
• closer joint working between health, housing and care services to make the best use of resources
• the emphasis on promoting healthier later life, investing in prevention and supporting older people earlier through schemes like telecare to improve quality of life and save money
• support for better regulation, improved training and career development for the care workforce to deliver better quality care.
• the proposal for a universal deferred payment scheme to help people meet the accommodation costs of residential care.
It will be several years before the green paper proposals become a reality and older people and their families face a growing care crisis today. It is therefore crucial that local authorities and primary care trusts work together now, as set out in the green paper, to make the current care system better by delivering both preventative and personalised care.
Sixty-one years after the NHS was founded, we have the chance to develop the next frontier of the welfare state. Creating a national care service on a par with the NHS is just what this country needs to meet the demands and expectations of our ageing population.
Stephen Burke is Chief Executive of Counsel and Care, the national charity working older people, their families and carers to get the best care and support.
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