Care costs must be clearer: Which?

Which said elderly people and families should be given better information about what care costs they might have to pay
19 September 2013

Consumer campaigners are calling for elderly people and families to be given better information about what care costs they might have to pay after finding evidence of a "widening postcode lottery".

Which? has been using Freedom of Information requests over the last five years to ask councils across England and Wales what level of home care they provide.

More than four-fifths (80%) of councils which responded in the latest survey now restrict care to those whose needs are "critical" or "substantial", up from just over 70% when similar research was carried out in 2009.

Someone's needs are deemed to be critical if there is a potential threat to life, they have significant health problems or are unable to carry out vital everyday tasks like washing or dressing. If their needs are termed substantial, this means they are unable to perform most everyday routines or have little support.

Around one third of 100 councils which responded about their care charges in both 2009 and 2013 have increased these above the rate of inflation and some local authorities have either scrapped weekly caps that limit how much people have to pay, or raised the level of the cap so they have to pay more, Which? said.

The proportion of councils offering weekly caps has more than halved in the last five years, from two-thirds (66%) who responded in 2009 to just one in three (31%) in 2013. The average cap has also increased from £245 per week in 2009 to £297.50 per week in 2013.

With varying changes in eligibility and care costs, Which? is urging the Government to make sure elderly people and their families get better information and advice about the care they are entitled to and how much they will need to pay.

Which? wants councils to provide information that is tailored to individual situations, and targeted at key "pinch points", for example when people see their GP or are discharged from hospital.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: "Our research starkly exposes the postcode lottery of home care provision. With limited resources and changes being introduced through the Care Bill, it has never been more important for people to get the best possible advice and information about the help they can expect. We want to see greater transparency from local authorities over the provision of care and greater consistency in the way they charge."

Some 152 councils responded to the Which? survey this year.

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