According to thinktank older people should receive free help to eat, wash and get dressed in a moved which would improve their health but need to be funded by a 2p tax rise.
The proposal identifies the growing political consensus that personal care should become free for over 65s. If this is brought into action, England would become in line with Scotland where care has been free since 2002.
Adult social care is one of the most important public services in the UK. For thousands of people it provides essential care and support to ensure they can maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life – this can be at home or in a residential setting. This care can involve receiving help with basic tasks such as getting up or eating, or 24 hour support for people who have complex needs.
Currently, many people with dementia have to pay for their own care whereas cancer patients will get free care through the NHS. By copying that benefit, the Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) believes the number of people with access to funded care would increase from 185,000 to 440,000. By 2030, it would be an increased cost of £11 billion a year for care for over 65s; it also means there would be an extra 70,000 full-time jobs.
Harry Quilter-Pinner, senior research fellow and lead report author at IPPR, said: “If you develop cancer in England, you are cared for by the NHS, free at the point of need for as long as it takes.
“But if you develop dementia you’re likely to have to pay for all your own social care – running up potentially catastrophic costs in the last years of your life. This makes no sense.
“By investing in personal social care so it is free at the point of need for everyone over-65, we can provide a better and more integrated care system, one that’s fairer to us all and saves the NHS £4.5bn a year.”
The NHS would save £4.5 billion a year by 2030 because older people would be in better health as a result of improved support at home therefore, they would not end up in hospital.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the care and support they need. We will set out our plans to reform the social care system at the earliest opportunity to ensure it is sustainable for the future.”
