LGA responds to Age UK analysis of unpaid carers aged over 80

19 Dec 2019 09:57 AM

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responded to new Age UK analysis which finds unpaid carers aged over 80 save the Government £23 billion a year 

“Our care system could not survive without the contribution of unpaid carers, including those aged 80 and over, who provide vital support for thousands of people every day. Councils fully recognise their crucial role and supported or assessed more than 345,000 unpaid carers in 2018/19.

“Unpaid caring can be extremely rewarding but we know it can also be a real strain – emotionally, physically and financially, which is why councils are committed to doing all they can to support them.
  
“Councils in England receive 1.9 million new requests for adult social care a year – the equivalent of more than 5,000 a day - and pressures just to maintain existing standards of care and support continue to rise.

“The Queen’s Speech today is an opportunity for the Government to announce its proposals for the future of adult social care and work cross-party with local government to finally find a long-term, sustainable funding solution.

“We also need an honest debate about what the future of care and support should look like, to reassure all those who use and work in this vital service.”

Notes to editors

LGA: Adult social care services help cut half a million unnecessary hospital bed days

New AGE UK analysis finds our over 80s save Government £23 billion a year through the unpaid care they give loved ones