Social care cuts: a worrying story

Now, only 4 councils provide care for the neediest in society, according to a report on the BBC’s Politics Show.

Good news if you live in Calderdale, Sunderland, Darlington or on the Scilly Isles – but worrying for the rest of us. Over 75% of local authorities now provide social care for elderly and disabled people who meet the criteria for ‘substantial’ needs. For those with ‘moderate’ or ‘low’ needs, they are left to face the challenges on their own.

And the situation’s unlikely to improve any time soon.

An estimated £6 billion budget shortfall over the next 20 years, caused by an ageing population and more demand for services, will further restrict the opportunities for those at the lower end of the care spectrum.

The much-touted personal care budgets will do little to ease the situation and simply shift the burden away from social services and onto the families, who will struggle to fill the gaps in the care services.

But at least there’s one solution in the short-term; you could always move to Sunderland…