Care Gap leaving millions without support, new report reveals

3.54.58pm GMT Mon 4th Dec 2006

Britain's social care system is creating a "care gap" that is leaving millions of people with no control over their lives, the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) said today. The situation is set to worsen, the DRC cautions, as the gap between those needing support and those actually receiving it widens.

In its new report, Independence Day, the DRC says the failings of the current system mean that:

• Many disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are without support enabling them to get out of bed, use the toilet or eat. Many cannot leave their homes to visit friends or family;

• More than a million disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are living in unsuitable housing;

• 320,000 people are living in residential care homes, many against their wishes, with no right or power to fight local authority decisions placing them there;

• A further 9,000 young adults are inappropriately housed.

The report also raises concerns that formal social care support could become an increasing scarcity in the future to many who will need it. Seven out of 10 local authorities admit to only offering services to people whose needs are judged to be "critical" or "substantial," with eight in 10 of the same authorities expecting to further tighten their eligibility criteria next year. This will place additional demands on voluntary carers to meet the care gap. But a recent DRC/Ipsos MORI survey revealed that younger generations are less likely to give up work and assume unpaid caring roles.

The survey's findings are in stark contrast to the public's own expectations about the type and quality of support they expect to receive from social care services. The survey also found that the overwhelming majority expected to be able to make decisions affecting them if they developed a disability or long-term health condition. Nearly 90 per cent said that they expected to be able to choose whether or not to live in residential care.

Independence Day details the lives of real people, demonstrating the shortcomings of the current social care system and how their lives could be transformed if a Private Member's Bill introduced by Lord Ashley to reform social care became law.

Commenting on the need to transform social care in Romsey to ensure independence and choice for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, Sandra Gidley MP said:

"The Independent Living Bill will make a huge improvement to the lives of many. I sincerely hope the Government supports the Bill and allocates House of Commons time to the legislation. I wish it every success"

Also commenting on the need for changes to the current system, Bert Massie, DRC Chairman, said:

"Our social care system is tilted in the wrong direction, keeping many people in a state of suspended animation and allocating scarce resources in the wrong way. It needs to be transformed so that its endgame is to provide real opportunities for people to live independently and to be active, visible citizens rather than the passive recipients of what others deem best.

"Lord Ashley's Private Member's Bill seeks to bring into effect the recommendations of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit announced more than 18 months ago and create a social care system to meet the needs of disabled people and reflect what they and the rest of the public clearly want."

For more information, or to obtain a copy of Independence Day, contact the DRC Press Office on 0207 543 7099.

Notes to editors:

In January 2005, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit released Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People, which recommended that the Government set an ambitious vision for improving the life chances of disabled people by 2025. Lord Ashley's Disabled Person's (Independent Living) Bill will, if enacted, put legislative effect to the Life Chances report, and the Government's social care Green paper and Health White paper by providing a joined up system of support.

The DRC is an independent statutory body responsible for tackling disability discrimination. The DRC aims to bring about equality of opportunity and increased participation for the 10 million people in Britain who have rights under the Disability Discrimination Act.