An estimated 100 care homes are lying empty despite 40,000 people waiting for care, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.
A freedom of information requests to all local authorities by the political party found that 94 care homes are not being used for their original purpose.
Thirty-seven of the unused care homes were found to be not fit for purpose, while 15 are lying empty, the FOI request, which had 46 responses, revealed.
Nineteen of the care homes are currently being refurbished, while 15 are now being used for other purposes such as office blocks.
More than 500,000 people are waiting for an assessment of their social care needs or a review of their circumstances.
Almost 40,000 people who have already been assessed are now waiting for their care to begin.
Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care spokesperson, Daisy Cooper MP, said: ‘This shocking revelation is evidence of a completely broken system, with care home buildings that are no longer fit for purpose.’
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