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Almost eight out of ten older people who use personal call alarms¹ rely on friends‚ family and commercial paid support to help out with everyday basic care tasks such as shopping‚ cleaning and DIY in order to live independently‚ according to new research from Age Concern and Help the Aged.

According to the charity’s new survey²‚ six out of ten respondents feel local councils are not doing enough to help older people stay in their own homes. Over the years‚ home care services have been increasingly restricted and most local councils only provide care to those who meet the highest criteria‚ leaving many older people without the basic care they need to lead independent and dignified lives.

The snapshot survey shows almost six out of ten respondents regularly receive help from friends and family with shopping‚ and more than a quarter receive help with household chores. 

Age Concern and Help the Aged will share the new findings with MPs at a parliamentary event on Wednesday 3 February.  With the general election fast approaching‚ MPs will be urged to ensure care reform is at the heart of their electoral manifestos.  In addition‚ three of the charity’s ‘Big Q’ campaign ambassadors will present their own personal experiences of the care system‚ highlighting some of the flaws that often fail many older people across the country.

Andrew Harrop‚ Director of Policy and Public Affairs for Age Concern and Help the Aged‚ said:

“There’s no doubt that the upcoming general election will be overshadowed by the urgent need to cut the budget deficit‚ but politicians must not lose sight of the care crisis before us. 

“Our research clearly shows older people are struggling to live independently in their own homes because the system is failing to provide them with an adequate level of care. 

“Older people and their families deserve a care system which enshrines dignity and fairness – it’s time for our politicians to deliver this for them.  If politicians ignore the urgent need for long term care reform now‚ it will be an unforgivable betrayal of generations to come.”

The charity estimates an annual increase of £70 million over each of the next five years is needed simply to keep up with the rising costs of caring for an ageing population.

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Notes to Editors

1. Aid call is the Age Concern and Help the Aged personal alarm service‚ currently used by over 40‚000 customers.
2. Age Concern and Help the Aged survey of 620 aid call customers‚ August – October 2009.

Age Concern and Help the Aged sent out 1900 questionnaires to aid call product users.  A total of 620 people responded to the survey.  Not all questions were answered by respondents.

Aid Call is the Age Concern and Help the Aged personal alarm service‚ currently used by over 40‚000 customers. The service provides people with a way to contact someone if‚ for example‚ they fall and hurt themselves at home. This reassurance helps many people to stay living independently in their own homes. Many Aid Call customers need care and support‚ either from the local council or from family and friends‚ but very few are asked to share their thoughts on the issue. Age Concern and Help the Aged felt it was important to find out the views of those who need care and support the most.

Following the publication of the government’s care and support Green Paper‚ the charity held more than 50 listening events across the country and consulted with hundreds of older people about their views on the proposals to reform the care and support system.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged. We will be known by our new name from Spring 2010. The Age UK family includes Age Scotland‚ Age Cymru and Age NI.

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Anne-Marie Doohan
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