Age UK Care in Crisis report: Alzheimer's Society comment

Published 30 January 2012

Today (Monday, 30 January), Age UK launches its Care in Crisis report which shows that spending on social care for older people in England has fallen by half a billion pounds since 2010.

Age UK's projected figures show that the government ought to be spending £7.8 billion this year in order to maintain the same levels of service as 2010. But the charity says councils have only budgeted £7.3 billion.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'It is completely unacceptable that spending is falling in this vital area. There was not enough funding to ensure everyone had good care in the first place. This is another slap in the face for people with dementia, who are already some of the hardest hit financially. When the state does not pay, vulnerable people's health is put at risk if they cannot foot the bill.

'As a nation we must realise unless people receive quality care at the right price, they can be forced inappropriately into hospital which could bankrupt the NHS. It is imperative we fix the system so it is a solution for the people using it, rather than a problem.'

Jeremy Hughes
Chief Executive
Alzheimer's Society