Damian Green MP sets out plan to fix social care - Alzheimer's Society comment

Damian Green MP, as First Secretary of State, commissioned the Government’s social care green paper.

The report argues that the care system should adopt the model of the state pension – with the Government providing enough support for a decent standard of care via a new Universal Care Entitlement, while encouraging and incentivising people to top up this provision from their savings or housing wealth via a Care Supplement. 

Sally Copley, Director of Policy, Campaigns and Partnerships at Alzheimer’s Society, said:

'The current state of the social care system is, quite frankly, appalling. Decades of squeezed funding have left people with dementia and their families enduring inadequate care and crippling costs.

'We’re pleased to see new proposals that would end the ‘dementia lottery’ and share the risk of catastrophic care costs more fairly across society. However, we do have concerns that a voluntary Care Supplement could limit access to quality care.

'Most of us simply don’t have the money to pay the typical costs of £100,000 needed for dementia care, and many people aren’t aware of the towering sums – so not putting money towards a supplement could mean they’re not able to afford the help they want when they need it most.

'While many long-term conditions are treated through the NHS, people with dementia rely on social care for support so we want to make sure it works for everyone, not just those who can afford it.'