In a statement last week, Care Minister Gillian Keegan announced that the government is delaying access for self-funders to lower local authority fee rates by 18 months. The reform had been originally planned to come into effect from October 2023, but instead the Government will roll it out in stages over 18 months
Existing care home residents may now need to wait until April 2025 before they can ask their council to arrange their care, at generally lower rates.
Will Donnelly, Co-Founder and Care Expert at Lottie, shares his thoughts:
“After a turbulent couple of years for the elderly care sector, it’s disappointing to hear that the promised reforms for self-funders are now delayed.
The increased cost of living will have impacted the amount of self-funders in care homes across the UK, as more residents will now rely on funding support. It is self-funders who are hit hardest by the rising costs of care homes, after homes across the UK have had to increase the cost of care to cover everyday costs. They need support more than ever before.
Thankfully, the delay does not affect the care cap, which is still set to come in from October 2023, and ensures that nobody will pay more than £86,000 for the personal care they need. However, this doesn’t reduce the frustration that the sector will wait a further 18 months for key reform that could save the elderly money for care when they need it most.
We must continue to place pressure on the Government to ensure the older generations’ needs are being always met,” shares Will Donnelly.
Here’s what the future of elderly care could look like, according to Lottie’s Will Donnelly:
- Diverse care package options
As we get older, our need for a diverse selection of residential, nursing and specialist care homes will increase. Care homes offer a great home-from-home experience for anyone that requires support in later life, and this should only improve, as new technology and health insights emerge.
For instance, there will be a greater emphasis on the use of technology in care homes to manage enquiries and the support given within the home to residents.
- More family caregivers
An ageing population means more people are living longer, and many families are finding themselves caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives.
Over the last 12 months, our new research found more workers turned to Google to find support for giving up employment to care for someone, including a 300% increase in online searches on Google for ‘giving up work to be a carer’.
To avoid a caregiving crisis, we must continue to raise awareness of the support that’s already available for the elderly in their local community, including funding for care homes, as well as place greater pressure on the Government to provide financial, practical, and emotional support.
- A greater awareness for the sector
The last few years have been uncertain for everyone, particularly for the older generation and those working with them. The pandemic led to care staff being re-defined by the government as key workers and there is now more awareness for the opportunities working in elderly care can bring.
Now more than ever, the elderly care sector is evolving and expanding, with new roles and progression paths being created, in addition to the level of care improving.
Unfortunately, there’s still a few of myths about working in social care. Over the next few years, it’s the responsibility of those within the industry to de-bunk them and share the importance of care homes in our society.
