Older people's care needs a major overhaul

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7518.655-b

BMJ 2005;331:655 (24 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7518.655-b

News roundup

Older people's care needs a major overhaul

London Sophie Arie

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a UK based social policy research body and think tank, has called for a major rethink of the way Britain funds long term care for its booming elderly population, warning that the existing system is unfair, inconsistent, and unsustainable.

A discussion paper commissioned by the foundation warns that Britain is ignoring a looming care funding crisis and its working generations are failing to plan for the cost of living longer.

"With the number of over 80s set to double in the next 30 years, people of all ages need reassurance that they will be able to get good quality care when they need it and will not have to impoverish themselves in the process," said Donald Hirsch, special advisor to the foundation and author of the paper.

"In the next 50 years we will have to spend about four times as much in . . . [Full text of this article]

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