The Green Party will today make the first of a series of rolling Social Care Policy Announcements starting with Care for the Elderly.
The announcement will contain proposals to deliver free social care for every adult over 65 who needs it, acknowledging the tax receipt provided by this age group during their working lives, and further funded by an absolute crack down on Tax Avoidance.
The policy writers refer to 2014 research from Age UK, showing that of the 2 million over sixty fives with health related care needs, at least 800,000 received no help at all. Public spending on adult social care saw a drop of 700 million between 2010 and 2013 resulting in a shortfall of care home places that coincides with an increase need for care home places amongst an aging population.
This drop in care home places for the elderly is reflected in the increased Accident and Emergency crises as Hospitals are unable to discharge elderly patients until scant care home places become available.
The 2012 Health Profile Report on Liverpool states that the health of people in the city is generally worse than the rest of England due to the impact of long term poverty and deprivation. This inequity produces a need for properly planned and delivered healthcare for the elderly – a need that the Green Party are prepared to acknowledge.
Speaking form personal experience Martin Dobson, Green Parliamentary candidate for Liverpool Riverside said
“Having worked in social care and having an elderly parent I have first hand knowledge of the problems of people who want to be independent but need regular support and nursing care. I have seen support staff rushed off their feet as they squeeze more and more into less and less time. The Green Party offers a vision whereby caring for vulnerable can be valued job where both the worker and the service user can both be confident of a high level of support.
Britain is the 6th richest country in the world. If Scotland can afford to provide free Social Care for the elderly, we certainly can in England”