Brown pledges elderly care reform

There is no quick-fix option, the government said today, as it launched a radical shake-up of support for the elderly in England.

Gordon Brown promised fundamental reform to social care of the elderly and disabled, with a public consultation that will last six months.

As things stand, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland people who have more than £21,500 - including the value of their home - are not entitled to any money for help at home.

But even with this limited means-tested system, the aging population means the government is facing a £6bn funding gap over the next 20 years.

In Scotland personal care has been free to the elderly since 2002. But many believe that cannot last, with costs running at £280m a year.

One idea has already got ministerial backing: individual budgets, where the elderly and disabled are given a sum of money to buy their own care, rather than relying on social services.

It is a simple concept, but in practice it is causing problems.

Clarification

In this report Barbara Pointon says she "agreed in principle" with Direct Payments but felt the system "left people vulnerable".

Barbara Pointon has asked us to make it clear that she had also expressed her strongly-held view that the advantages of Direct Payments far outweigh the disadvantages.

In particular she states in relation to her own experience with direct payments for the care of her husband Malcolm:

"1.Choice: direct payments enabled the Pointons to choose who worked in their own home.

2. Continuity: compared with our experience of disjointed Agency care, the directly-employed staff stayed much longer, giving continuity and familiarity so essential for people with dementia.

3. Value for money: because there was no profit/overheads margin, Direct Payments cost Social Services less, and the care worker earned more. The taxpayer's money can therefore support more people.

4. Practical support: Organisations (such as the Rowan Organisation) advise on employment matters and can do the payroll if required - all for free.

5. As for more protection for the vulnerable, a register of approved domiciliary care workers, kept by local Social Services and with up-to-date references, would solve the problem of unsuitable care workers, as is already in place in some areas".

Channel 4 News is happy to set the record straight.

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