Pensions - Articles - Social Care funding must not remain geographical lottery

 “When the Government eventually gets round to publishing proposals for a stable and sustainable way of sharing social care costs between the state and individuals, it must tackle geographical differences in demand for social care. To ensure consistent supply of good quality care across the country, local councils will need funding support which reflects the proportion of elderly in their region so we can end the current geographical lottery.

 “There are dramatic differences in age profiles between regions, with cities tending to have a younger age demographic than rural areas. In Dorset, for example, 13% of the population are aged 75 and over which compares to just 5% in the London region*. While younger age groups place different demands on local councils, the projected rocketing demand for social care driven by our ageing population will create huge funding pressures. The imperative of offering everyone good quality care and dignity in later life, wherever they happen to live, is not something central Government can duck and leave to local council funding.”

 
 *Source: ONS, Estimates of the population for the UK, mid-2017 population estimates