Public ‘still ignorant of social care system’
Author: Local Government Chronicle |
Confusion over the failings of the current social care system and a reluctance to look after elderly relatives could hamper public debate on the government’s impending Green Paper, a survey has warned.
Ahead of the proposals for changing the nation’s care-funding system, which are due out next month, research from the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) shows people are reluctant to pay for relatives’ care and that few want to rely on their family for help.
According to the organisations, 52% of respondents to a recent survey said they should not be compelled to pay for the care of a relative, while 45% of those surveyed said they would prefer to be looked after by a professional carer than a family member.
IPPR and PwC also found that less than half (46%) of respondents were aware that social care services like home-helps were means tested, and that just 22% were taking any steps to provide for their own future care needs.