Researchers have recommended proactive social care to support pensioners’ ‘right[s] to live and age well’.
In a report published today by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), experts emphasised the importance of establishing a preventative social care model for adults by investing in early assessments for those turning 65.
According to the report, adult social care costs increased to £23.3bn for local authorities in 2023/24, a figure that the authors suggest will rise as the population ages.
Learning from Japan
To resolve the crisis, the report suggests that the Government should draw inspiration from Japan’s care system, which is rooted in ‘long-term care insurance’ to improve the older population’s quality of life, whilst limiting institutional care costs through a shift to home-based services.
Highlighting the adult social care funding gap faced by councils, researchers advised that investment is urgently required to enable these reforms and urged the Government to prioritise social care in local authority budgets.
A Proactive Approach to Social Care
Dr Annie Williamson, research fellow at IPPR, said: ‘A proactive approach to adult social care, including universal MOT-style assessments at 65 and early support, could help people maintain independence for longer while reducing long-term costs.
‘A shift to prevention will mean fewer care home admissions, better quality of life for older adults, and more sustainable funding. As the UK grapples with rising demand and strained budgets, this kind of forward-thinking reform offers a way out.’
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