Age UK's response to national eligibility criteria regulations

Age UK response to national eligibility criteria  regulations

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said:

'On the day that we are remembering the sacrifices of the war generation, the surviving members of which are now of an age to increasingly need some help to stay independent. Age UK believes these new regulations are not simply good enough. Our older people deserve much better.

'Age UK applauds the Government for issuing the first ever national regulations on who is eligible for care, but the problem is they are far too restrictive and risk shutting many older people out of the care system who badly need our support.

'The regulations are written in such a way that we worry that people with dementia who need help to continue to live at home with dignity could be screened out, together with those who struggle with dressing, or washing, or going to the toilet or preparing food: from now on the inability to do just one of these fundamental things will not be enough to qualify you for support and Age UK's concern is that without it, some older people's needs will escalate, undermining their capacity to continue to live at home.

'Age UK is calling on the Government to amend these draft regulations to ensure that older people with dementia or others who need help with an essential task do get the care they need. Age UK is also urging people to feed back their views as part of the consultation by logging onto http://careandsupportregs.dh.gov.uk'

-Ends-

Ref: SLSKCA

Notes to editors

Media contact: Liz Fairweather
Tel: 0203 033 1718
Out of hours:  07071 243 243

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).