Commenting on the Government’s proposals to reform social care, announced in the Queen’s Speech, Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said:
“The announcement in the Queen’s Speech to reform adult social care is welcome, but further detail is urgently required.
“The sector has been waiting for more than 20 years to see reform to social care in England, and with every year that goes past, more and more older people are not accessing the care they need and are being forced into extreme financial stress.
“What’s more, the success of the NHS Long Term Plan relies on social care being fully funded.
“It’s vital that the Government quickly announces concrete plans for social care, including long-term funding and an appropriate workforce, to ensure more people have access to the support they need at the right time. Independent Age believes that free personal care for older people must be part of that solution.”