William Eichler 19 September 2019

Over 300,000 people forced to sell homes to pay for care

Over the last 20 years hundreds of thousands of older people have been forced to sell their home to cover the cost of social care, charity reveals.

A new report from Independent Age estimates that since 2000 more than 330,000 older people have had to sell their homes to pay for care costs including help with washing, getting dressed and going to the toilet.

Entitled Homing in on free personal care, the study calls on the Government to provide free personal care to older people which, they argue, would ‘significantly reduce’ unmet care needs.

It would also, the report says, lead to more people being cared for in their own home, which would reduce pressure on the NHS.

More than three-quarters of people (78%) across England support the introduction of free personal care for people aged 65 and over who need it, the charity’s research found.

Around 74% would contribute more in some way to fund it and 68% of those aged 18-24 would support the introduction of free personal care.

In 2015, the Government introduced Deferred Payment Agreements (DPAs), which are arrangements with the council that allows people to use the value of their homes to help pay care costs.

Independent Age submitted a Freedom of Information Request to all 152 local authorities in England with responsibility for adult social care in July 2019. Of the 93 who responded, seven had no DPAs in place, 29 had accepted all of their applications, and three had not accepted any applications.

‘Our findings show exactly why free personal care is so badly needed,’ said Morgan Vine, campaigns manager at Independent Age.

‘Even arranging DPAs – a safety net to prevent people having to sell their homes within their lifetime – is proving to be a postcode lottery and doesn’t address the unacceptable situation where people are still required to spend a catastrophic amount on their care.

‘Our prime minister has announced his intention to fix the social care system, and it’s crucial that free personal care is part of that solution. Free personal care is an affordable option for the country and is popular with people of all generations.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Storytelling and Case Studies Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
Starting Salary from £43,545 FTE based on Skill
Job Title Storytelling and Cas... Wandsworth Town Hall/hybrid
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Head of Housing Development

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
UP to £116,847
Job Title- Head of Housing Development Salary – UP to £116,847 Permanent – Fulltime (36hours) Location- Wandsworth Town Hall, London Are you experienced in Local Government Housing Association/Development? If yes, you are invited to consider th Wandsworth, London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Chief of Staff

Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk
up to £126,615
We’re transforming services with ambition and community at the heart of our work. Norfolk
Recuriter: Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Director of People

Lancashire County Council
£108,697 - £117,998
As a leader at Lancashire County Council, you’ll join an authority with real scale, courageous ambition and deep pride in place. County hall
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council

Director of Strategy and Transformation

Lancashire County Council
£108,697 - £117,998
As a leader at Lancashire County Council, you’ll join an authority with real scale, courageous ambition and deep pride in place. Preston, Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner