LGA responds to royal voluntary service report of families supporting older people

3 Dec 2015 12:17 PM

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, the Local Government Association's Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, responded to a study from the Royal Voluntary Service which shows that family networks struggle to support older people leaving hospital

"Sadly, this report is symptomatic of a social care and support system that is under enormous financial pressure.  

"Councils work closely with providers and the NHS to make sure people and their families have access to the services they require to keep them independent and well when they leave hospital. However, with increasing demand and continued funding pressures, elderly and vulnerable people face an uncertain future where the dignified care and support they deserve, such as getting back to independence, help getting dressed or getting out and about, is at risk.

"The Government has listened to our concerns about the urgent need to address our social care funding crisis by allowing councils with adult social care responsibilities to raise extra money through council tax to offset some of the pressures on social care. The additional funding for social care in the Better Care Fund, rising to £1.5 billion by 2019/20, also announced in the Spending Review, is also good news. Whilst this will go part of the way to helping the social care funding gap, we are concerned there is no money next year and the full benefit will not be seen until the end of the decade, despite care for the elderly and vulnerable being at breaking point now." 

More information can be found at: http://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/our-impact/lets-end-going-home-alone