Press Release

Full reality of care is misunderstood

Thursday, August 14 2008

Responding to the Saga study which shows that people are underestimating the cost of care, Lizzie McLennan, Senior Policy Officer for Social Care at Help the Aged, says: "The full reality of care on the ground is clearly misunderstood – by the Government, older people and their families.

"We can't afford to live in a society where it is just assumed that families will step in to cover the gaps in paying for care for older people. As it stands the system would fall apart without the dedicated and often unrewarded work of family carers – they should not be expected to provide the care and foot the bill.

"Serious questions about the future of social care are currently being debated and the role of families and carers needs to be a priority within that. Families are the backbone of care and their support shouldn’t be abused or taken advantage of – the Government must support carers, both financially and practically."