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Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern England said:

“This report is a breakthrough in recognising that older people are consumers like anyone else and their rights should be upheld.  

“It confirms the shocking extent of the problems older people and their families are forced to endure when trying to find and pay for care homes.

“The system is in such a mess that thousands cannot get the basic information they need at a very distressing time of life.  It is outrageous that people funding themselves are not told by some local authorities and homes the full cost of the care they will have to pay.     

“The report’s package of recommendations‚ if taken on board‚ would force local authorities to be sure they know how much care home places in their area cost. This would mean people would be clear what they would have to pay on top of what the authority is willing to pay.

“The Government must now make it a priority to put the report’s recommendations in place and end this chaos.” 

Notes to editors:

The report is the culmination of an 18 month collaboration between older people’s charities SPAIN and the Consumer’s Association.

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