Age UK comments on the latest Queen's speech

On Wednesday 21 June, Age UK commented on the latest Queen's speech, and what it means for social care and older people. 

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said:

'We are very pleased that the Government is pressing ahead with a Social Care Green Paper. 

'A sustainable solution for social care is urgently required and for Age UK this needs to include a cast-iron Government commitment to fill the yawning funding gap; help for the 1.2 million older people with an unmet need for care; measures to improve quality and keep providers and care staff from quitting; and some kind of compulsory ‘risk pooling' to protect everyone of all ages from catastrophic care costs.

'We hope that ideas like these will form the starting point for the Green Paper. The proposals set out in the Conservative Party Manifesto were insufficiently thought through and involved a major shift of financial liability onto older people and their families, and there was a lack of clarity as to what they might receive in return which might make such policies fair and worthwhile from their point of view.

'There was also no recognition that many older people and their families are already paying a great deal for social care and not always receiving a good service in return. It is critical that this consultation process results in real reform to the social care system which is so desperately needed.'