Lawson West welcome Inquiry into Social Care Lottery

Lawson West welcome news that the Government has launched an inquiry into care for the vulnerable elderly after a report from the Commission for Social Care found inconsistencies in social care services across the country.

The report showed that 73% of local authorities plan to refuse care to people whose needs are not considered “substantial” or “critical”. This leaves an estimated 6,000 older people with “high support needs”, such as needing help with bathing and eating, without care services and no informal care. A further 275,000 older people with less intensive needs, such as help with shopping, are also without care services. The report also estimated that 450,000 older people who do get informal support from family and/or friends have a shortfall in their personal care.

Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis told media that increasing numbers of local authorities were imposing a test to establish whether vulnerable elderly people could be denied care because their conditions weren’t yet serious enough to be life-threatening. Such restrictions contravene the Government’s strategy for early intervention to stop people’s conditions from deteriorating.

The inquiry will also look into how people can be helped to find their way around the maze of social care services and secure early intervention.

In announcing the review Minister Ivan Lewis said, “I want to see an end to the ‘no help here’ culture which is now creeping into parts of the care system. There will always be a need for a national social care framework, but the existing system is leaving too many families on their own and runs the risk of damaging our commitment to support older and disabled people to live independently.”

If you are facing decisions about care, Lawson West can help. We offer a free Stress Buster Guide to Preparing for Care and a Care Homes checklist. Lawson West also offer a free initial appointment to talk through your options and how we can help. Call 01858 445480 now.