Commenting on research by the Local Government Association and Carers UK, which shows increasing strain on unpaid carers, George McNamara, Director of Policy at Independent Age, the older people’s charity, said:
“Carers up and down the country are propping up a failing social care system that has been starved of vital funding. Root and branch reform of social care cannot come too soon for carers who want to do all they can to support their family.
“Carers need recognition and support from local and national government. Our recent research found that three-quarters of the public want to see an entitlement to free personal care, which will provide vital care and additional support for carers. Introducing free personal care in England, which is already available to people over 65 in Scotland, will start to turn the tide on a social care system that currently isn’t meeting the needs of older people and their carers.”