Londoners confused about adult care funding system

Londoners are confused about the current system of adult care funding and strongly support more state spending, according to a poll released on the eve of the green paper on the issue.

A survey of more than 1,000 adults aged 18-64 commissioned by London Councils, which represents the capital’s local authorities, found only one in 10 expressed “great concern” about their future care needs.

This is despite projections that many more Londoners are likely to need care, with numbers aged over 65 set to increase from 900,000 to 1.25m by 2031.

Of the 16% who had an older relative with social care needs, more than four in 10 reported problems in knowing who to speak to about obtaining care, and a similar proportion did not know what aspects of care were free.

One half of respondents said government should pay for adult care and just over a quarter believed councils should.

Forty-six per cent supported increasing taxes to fund extra spending on care but this was opposed by 44% of respondents. Another 23% supported making it compulsory for everyone to contribute, such as through insurance.

The Department of Health green paper is expected in the next fortnight. It will consider how to reform funding to meet rising demand.

More information

Expert guide to adult green paper

➔ Expert guide to the green paper at www.communitycare.co.uk/adultgreenpaper

➔ More on the survey at www.communitycare.co.uk/111808