New research has revealed that more older people than ever here in the UK are missing out on the essential care and support they need, rising by 19 per cent to reach almost one in seven in just two years.
The Age UK study has also found that delayed discharges from hospital because of a lack of social care are now costing the NHS over £500 a minute.
It was shown that of the 1.4 million older people living with an unmet care need, over 300,000 need help with three or more everyday tasks such as going to the toilet, getting dressed or getting out of bed.
Commenting on the findings, Caroline Abrahams – charity director of Age UK – said that more and more ill and frail older people are now being left to cope by themselves because it’s becoming harder for them to access the care that they require.
She went on to say that they’re at greater risk of not eating enough, falling down and hurting themselves because they’re forced to try to attempt more than they should be doing.
“And it goes without saying that their lives are likely to be diminished and made more miserable. Is this what we want for our parents and grandparents, husbands and wives, older neighbours and friends in 2018?” Ms Abrahams went on to say.
Off the back of this report, Age UK is now calling for the government to bring in a three-year funding deal to ensure that social care is protected as part of the Autumn Budget.
