How the parties line up and what campaigners want from them

Labour

• Individual budgets to boost independence, incorporating social
  care, housing support and Jobcentre services. No extra resources
  committed to deliver change.
• National framework on NHS continuing care, though free personal
  care ruled out.
• Merger of Healthcare Commission and Commission for Social Care
  Inspection (CSCI) by 2008.
• 3,000 community matrons – typically district nurses – to
  case-manage people with the most serious long-term conditions.
• Pension credit to increase in line with earnings by 2008.
  Labour says this will take 600,000 pensioners out of poverty.
• £200 council tax discount for pensioners in 2005-6.
• Target of eradicating fuel poverty for vulnerable groups by
  2010.
• Abolish mandatory retirement ages below 65 and give people
  right to request to work after 65.

Conservatives

• Those who fully fund the first three years of their long-term
  personal care will receive free care thereafter.
• Restore link between state pension and earnings to cut
  means-testing, funded by abolition of New Deals for young people,
  over 25s and lone parents.
• Pension credit to rise in line with earnings until 2008.
• 50 per cent discount worth up to £500 a year on council
  tax bills for pensioner households.
• Slash Department of Health quangos – likely to mean merger of
  the CSCI and Healthcare Commission.

Liberal Democrats

• Free personal care.
• Local income tax to replace council tax.
• Increase state pension for over 75s to increase from
  £79.60 to £109.45 a week for single people and
  £127.25 to £167.05 for couples, based on citizenship
  rather than national insurance contributions.
• Scrap retirement ages below 65, and allow people to flexibly
  combine work and pensions.
• Merge Healthcare Commission and CSCI.

Help the Aged

• Free personal care.
• Abolish mandatory retirement ages.
• Extend disability living allowance to people over 65.
• Increase state pension to a “decent” level.
• Make council tax based on ability to pay.
• Right to free central heating and home insulation for all older
  people.
• Every older person should have a free, full-fare transport
  pass.

Age Concern

• Free personal care.
• Increase personal expenses allowance for people in residential
  care above current £18.10 a week.
• Improve services for older people with mental health
  problems.
• Abolish mandatory retirement ages.
• Extend disability living allowance to those over 65.
• Increase state pension from £79.60 to £105 a
  week.
• Carers to have right to ask for flexible working, something
  Labour is considering.