Funding cuts are making it increasingly difficult to support unpaid carers, local government leaders have warned.
The Local Government Association (LGA) says the latest figures show long-term sustainable funding is needed for adult social care to support unpaid carers.
A report by Carers UK said more than half of unpaid carers are unable to save for retirement and more than a third are struggling to make ends meet.
Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: 'Councils in England receive 1.8 million new requests for adult social care a year – the equivalent of nearly 5,000 a day – and there is a £3.6bn funding gap facing adult social care by 2025, just to maintain existing standards of care and support.’
‘We cannot duck this issue as a society any longer,’ he continued.
‘The Government needs to commit to meeting our deadline, before the party conferences start, to finally publish its long-awaited green paper outlining what the future funding options and possible solutions to this crisis are.
‘The upcoming Spending Review and much-delayed government green paper needs to provide the long-term sustainable funding solution which adult social care, including unpaid carers, urgently needs.'
