Age UK's Budget response

In response Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director for Age UK, said:

'This Budget contains some measures of benefit to older taxpayers, most notably the increase in tax-free allowances, but we are very disappointed that no additional investment in social care and NHS was announced today.

'Older people want to sustain their independence at home for as long as possible and good social care and community health services are crucial in helping them to do so.

'Enabling older people to continue living at home if they are frail and coping with long-term health conditions, is not only in their interests, it would benefit the taxpayer and reduce the pressures on our busy hospitals too.

'Unless more funding is made available by central Government, the services that do the most to help older people to feel safe, fit and well at home seem set for further decline and that is a source of serious concern to us, as well as making little policy sense.'

-- Ends --

Notes to editors

Media contact: Vicky Smith

Tel: 0203 033 1682

Out of hours: 07071 243 243

Ref: LFSKCAjv

Age UK

We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and our local Age UK partners in England (together the Age UK Family). We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK believes that everyone should have the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances. We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).