Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern England said:

“Today older people are being offered a Hobson’s choice – options in principal but not in practice. Direct payments will not work if there are no services for people to choose from locally.

“Offering older people more control over their own care is a step forward‚ but chronic under-funding means that the structure of older people’s social care needs completely rebuilding. Less is being spent per person on older people than on any other age group.*

“More money must be ploughed into the simple services that can make or break an older person’s independence – a basic grip rail‚ a wheelchair ramp or help with shopping.

“It is extremely worrying that under these proposals an older person could hire a care worker who is completely un-checked. The desperately under-resourced Criminal Records Bureau should be given a cash injection so that people have the option to check the safety of care workers for themselves.

“Care is a key issue for older voters and they want to see clear commitments‚ which meet their real needs now*.“

Notes to editors:

*  The number of households receiving home care has fallen by 27% since 1997. DoH  (Local Authority returns for survey week Sept/Oct.)

• There is statistical evidence to show that spending per head on older people’s services‚ and increases in spending in recent years‚ are less than for other groups. For example Department of Health statistics show that:
• The weekly cost of social care for older people is £377 whilst for other adult groups it ranges from £447 - £734;
• Average spending on home care for older people is £81 a week compared to £238 for people with learning disabilities.
• ICM/Age Concern (Jan 2004) – 32% of voters over 55 said they wanted the Government to put more ‘time and energy’ into public services.
• Gordon Lishman‚ Director  General of Age Concern England is available as a spokesperson.
• Radio Producers‚ Age Concern has an ICN facility‚ please contact Miranda Yates‚ tel 0208 7657511 for information.
• Copies of the 'Green Paper - Independence‚ Well-being and Choice'‚ are available on the Department of Health website.

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