'Don't ignore the elderly', David Cameron is urged
Published on 08 May 2012 10:00 AM
A group of 78 charities and campaign groups, including Age UK, has written an open letter to David Cameron urging him not to ignore older people and to transform the provision of care with a new law.
In advance of Wednesday's Queen's Speech, the letter warns the Prime Minister that millions of older people will be condemned to a life of 'misery and fear', unless he takes action.
The letter, which also includes signatories such as Saga and the Local Government Association says: 'The system is a lottery... action is needed to reform a system which can currently leave people helpless, in the dark about care and suffering massive losses as a result of care bills.'
Under the current system, older people have to pay for their own care, if they have assets or savings worth more than £23,500 and it's estimated that around 20,000 have to sell their home every year to meet their costs.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday morning, Michelle Mitchell, Age UK's Charity Director-General, said that the care system for elderly people is in a 'chronic state' and called for 'radical reform'.
Read the open letter to the Prime Minister on social care (PDF 36KB)