Care professionals urged to back Age UK care campaign

Age UK is urging professionals who work in the social care sector to back our Care in Crisis campaign, demanding urgent reform of the care system.

Age UK has launched a Care in Crisis petition calling on the Government to reform the care system for older and disabled people so that everyone gets the care they need to live with respect and dignity.  The petition calls on the Government to take urgent action to ensure that:

• Everyone who needs care receives it and is treated with the respect they deserve
• No one is forced to sell their home or sacrifice all their savings to pay for the care they need
• People are able to plan and prepare for care in advance

Age UK is asking all those professionals who are involved in the care system or are affected by it to sign up to our petition to get their voices heard. We aim to collect 100,000 signatures by 1 March 2012, and will deliver them to the Government ahead of the planned White Paper on the future of long term care.

'The current care system is confusing, unfair and unsustainable'

Successive governments have talked about reforming care, but the issue has been repeatedly shelved. With the recent budget cuts and a growing older population the care system is confusing, unfair and unsustainable.

Recent cuts to care and support services have also created huge pressures in the care system. Hard-working professionals are often left to pick up the pieces and deliver services to inadequate budgets, frequently meaning people are left to struggle on without the help and support they need to lead independent lives.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director of Age UK, commented: 'Reform of the care system is one of the most pressing issues facing older people today as those working within it will know only too well.

'The passion and commitment of those working in the caring professions is all too often undermined by a system that is unfair, inadequate and confusing. The care system is on the verge of collapse and we need the Government to act urgently to reform the system to have a fair and sustainable future.

'Too many people rely on the care system on a daily basis for it to be kicked into the long grass and sidelined as too difficult  or costly to fix.'

'Our window of opportunity is now - please sign our petition'

Michelle Mitchell continued: 'Our window of opportunity to influence Government is now so we urgently need your support to ensure that the Government listens to the concerns of not just older people and their families, but also the professionals directly working in the midst of this care crisis.

'Please sign our petition and help us to reach our target to secure good care for older people now and in the future.'

To sign up to Age UK's Care in Crisis petition calling for urgent care reform, please either go to www.ageuk.org.uk/careincrisis, or visit your local Age UK office or shop.

Ahead of the planned launch of the Government's White Paper on the future of long term care, Age UK will present the Care in Crisis petition to the Government. A mass lobby of Parliament will also be held on 6 March at Westminster, London to demonstrate public support for care reform.