UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation blasts Britain’s long-term care system

“Britain’s system of funding long-term care for its ageing populationis unfair, unsustainable and incoherent, a social policy charity reportsays.

The system lacks clear definitions of the level ofcare people need and how much they should contribute, the JosephRowntree Foundation paper argues.

It warns the cost of such care is set to quadruple over the next 50 years.

If the system is unchanged, most of the increase will fall on individuals, many of whom will struggle to pay, it adds.

Among the paper’s suggestions for reform are:

• Improving the system that helps pay for residential and nursing care according to an older person’s diagnosed condition.

• Limiting the extent to which people are expected to use the proceeds of selling their homes before they are eligible for local authority help with care costs.

• More help for those on low incomes, who are currently expected to give up most of their pensions before getting local authority help with residential care costs.

Read more at the BBC on-line.

The Foundation’s report is available via the organization’s website.