The need for Long Term Care is a growing issue for many people with most people living
longer. The statistics show that 1 in 3 women will require some form of care at some stage and the figure is 1 in 4 for men.
There is a great deal of confusion surrounding what the state will or might pay for
and how the costs can be funded, whether you wish to stay in your own home or move to a residential or nursing home. From
October 2001 new rules came in but the changes are not as great as might have been thought and for many people they will provide
no benefit at all.
One of the consequences of increased longevity is an increased likelihood
that people will need to be looked after in their old age.
Statistics
In the 1840s, average life expectancy was 41 for men and 43 for women.
Today, the corresponding figures are 75 and 80. (Source: National Office of Statistics 2002).
But a longer life does not necessarily mean a healthier life. According
to the Office for National Statistics 2001, both males and females born in 1997 can expect to live longer than their parents,
but to spend more time in poor health. Government figures suggest that there is a one in three chance of a 65 year old woman
needing to be admitted to a nursing home; though for men the probability is one in five. (Source: Royal Commission Report 1999).
At the same time, family structures are changing, with higher divorce
rates, more single elderly people and fewer children to look after their parents in later life.
Long Term Care is likely to be one of the greatest cost burdens facing
elderly people, and although there will often be a natural reluctance on the part of clients to discuss the possibility of
their having to spend their declining years in a care home, clients do need to be made aware of the risks.
The following links will provide you with additional information on
each of the relevant topics from a variety of sources, including Age Concern and the DWP amongst others.
We can provide advice and assistance to you, or someone you are representing,
in investigating methods of funding care whether it is at home or in a residential or nursing home.
Finding help at home
Local Authority Charging Procedures for Care Homes
Direct Payments from Social Services
Treatment of the former Home for people in care
Paying for Care & Support at Home
Caring for Others
