Policy

Older people with care and support needs should have a choice about how and where those needs are met. Care and support should be of high quality and provided in a way that respects older people’s dignity and independence. Funding should be available for all older people to receive a level of care that meets essential human rights‚ free of charge (with additional arrangements between the individual and the state for care above this level).

We are working to bring about improvements in the quality of care services; to ensure social care provides dignity and respect; to eliminate age discrimination in social care; and to make support services more widely available so that older people can carry on living at home. We support the right to independent living for disabled adults of all ages.

Funding:

We want to bring about a new and sustainable funding system for long-term care which would be fair‚ adequate for people’s needs‚ secure for the long-term‚ clear and consistent‚ and flexible – allowing older people to choose how they spend their care funding.

Carers:

Public policy needs to recognise the contribution older carers make to society and the need to provide them with financial assistance and free services. We are working to improve access for carers to information and services and to ensure better support to help them maintain their physical and mental well-being‚ balance caring with working‚ and accumulate an adequate income for retirement.

For more details on our social care policy position download from the bottom of this page:

• the care and care services chapter of our report - The Age Agenda 2008 - public policy and older people.
• our social care policy position paper
• our older carers policy position paper