Just Group launches the Care Report 2025: Social Care Reform - Stuck in the Waiting Room, the 13th edition of the UK’s longest running study tracking the knowledge and attitudes of social care, amongst people aged 45 and older, the cohort most likely to have experience in dealing with the social care system either for themselves or a loved one. The research series has canvassed the opinion of around 30,000 people over the past 14 years.
This year’s Care Report delivers a ‘must try harder’ verdict from people aged 45+ on the Labour Government’s attempts to improve the adult social care system in its first year in office, with few optimistic it can provide long-term solutions.
The Budget speech on November 26 could be an indicator of Government resolve towards tackling care, offering an opportunity to convince a sceptical public that social care reform remains a genuine priority rather than a postponed promise.
The findings in this year’s research show that 42% of adults aged 45+ agree that the problems facing social care have worsened since Labour took office, with only 20% disagreeing. More than six in ten (62%) do not believe the Government is doing a good job on the issue of adult social care with only 8% stating they think the Labour Government is doing a good job.
Looking to the future, only one in 10 (10%) of people aged 45+ are confident that the Labour government will fix the long-term problems in social care – that stands in stark contrast to the more than two-thirds (68%) of respondents who disagree.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “Social care policy – so much talk and so little action. Decades of consultations, white papers, pronouncements and proposals but with almost zero tangible progress. It’s hard not to be sceptical and that certainly seems to be the public mood.
“Our Care Report, the longest running series of its kind, has been tracking public attitudes and understanding of social care since 2012. This year’s edition comes a year into this current Government’s tenure and it’s fair to say the public is underwhelmed.
“Despite standing on a manifesto pledge for change, voters are seeing little progress. Instead, there is an overwhelming sentiment that the problems within social care are getting worse, not better.
“The Government has set up the Casey Commission, tasked with producing a plan to phase in a ‘national care service’ in England over the next decade. But its longer-term recommendations are not expected before 2028.
“Despite the severe immediate pressures on the sector, it seems unlikely meaningful changes will be implemented in this Government’s current term. The human cost falls on the tens of thousands of people who will continue having to navigate a creaking system that few think is fit for purpose.”
The Just Group Care Report 2025: Social Care Reform – Stuck in the Waiting Room can be downloaded here:
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