UK NEWS

OUTRAGE AS THE COST OF CARE FOR THE ELDERLY IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE

IN HOMES: Campaigners estimate that around 17 per cent of people over 85 are in long-term care

Tuesday February 19,2008

By Sarah O’Grady, Social Affairs Correspondent

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(4)

THE cost of long-term care for the elderly is set to double during the next 20 years, research reveals.

The average bill for a four-year stay in a care home will soar from £112,312 to £223,476, warns Saga, which provides services for the over-50s.

The alarming figure is based on fees rising by 3.5 per cent a year on top of 2.5 per cent inflation and underlines the importance of planning for the cost of care in old age, says Saga.

The Daily Express crusade Respect For The Elderly has highlighted anger over how elderly people who have worked and saved all their lives are stripped of their homes to pay bills of several hundred pounds a week.

Families who expected to inherit houses or flats instead find that funds have been drained to pay for care.

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, said: “We estimate that one in four people aged 85 and over will need care but who will pay for this care in the future is unclear.

“This summer, the Government will launch its Green Paper on the future of funding for care.

Reform is urgently needed to make sure that everyone can get the care they need, that care is of better quality and that care is paid for in a fairer way.”

Campaigners say that around 17 per cent of people aged 85 and over are in long-term care, and with life expectancy rising, increasing numbers of people are likely to need it in future. A man who is aged 60 now is expected to live for another 26 years on average, while a woman is likely to live for another 29 years.

Dot Gibson, vice-president of the National Pensioners Convention, said: “Every year 70,000 people have to sell their homes to pay for services that should be free – such as help to use the lavatory or getting dressed.

“It would cost around £1billion – a fraction of what is earmarked for new Trident missiles – to give older people the dignity of having the care they need at the end of their lives without having to pay.”

WHEN I GET TO THAT POINT

19.02.08, 10:09am

It will be the pills and a bottle of whiskey because,care it aint.
At these prices you could check into a hotel and receive more attention.
Why under this shower, has the price of everything doubled and the service received halved?

• Posted by: rozipoz • Report Comment

CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE AND COSIER!

19.02.08, 8:15am

A much better solution to going into "long" term care which is so expensive and in a lot of homes barbaric is just to refuse to pay council tax.Result is you get fed & watered all the heating and comfort with t v and expenses to spend as you want with people who must treat you decently and address you as Mr. or Mrs.all paid for by the state so the hard earned savings can go to your family.

• Posted by: owldshep • Report Comment

S*D IT

19.02.08, 7:50am

I am in my 50s and living life to the full !

Who wants to live into old age.

Our culture is focused on staying young and being healthy.

The last thing I want to be is a crabby old dear rotting away in some care home.

The thought of this is more frightening than the cost of keeping me !

• Posted by: abuela • Report Comment

WHICH PHARMACY WILL BE FIRST TO SELL KITS

19.02.08, 12:47am

I wonder which pharmacy will be first to sell off the shelf euthanasia kits as this seems the only way left, get back i'm first in line.
Need a small adjustment to law first.

• Posted by: CAN • Report Comment