Olympian turned Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Foster has joined presenters Philippa Forrester and Cerri Burnell in adding support to four short films that use real life examples to show why care and support matters. See the first two films below. The other two will appear on this website over the next week.

As the Big Care Debate enters its final week, they are asking everyone to have their say on the future of the care and support system.

“Life can change in seconds,” said Mark Foster. “For me it can be the difference between winning and losing. You can never know when your life may change forever and you may have care and support needs. Make sure you have your say on the future of the National Care Service.”

The films feature four individuals who currently receive care and support, highlighting the fact that the Government is looking to create a National Care Service that is simpler, fairer and more affordable than the current system.

The Big Care Debate gives everyone the opportunity to shape Government policy on the future of care and support by having their say on the proposals for reform set out in July’s Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together.

Care Services Minister Phil Hope said: “The current system needs to change. I believe we can create a system that is fairer for everyone, but we need your help. This is your chance to make a real difference. There isn’t much time left until the debate ends, and I would urge everyone to get involved and give us their views.”

The debate affects everyone. In 20 years time a quarter of the entire adult population in England will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled. Half of all men and two in three women will end up needing care, and if someone has more than £23,000 in savings, they will need to meet all the costs themselves.

Under the current system the average cost of care and support is £30,000, but for someone with dementia it could be as high as £200,000. The Government wants to change this.

One of the films features Diana Morgan, who has received care and support since losing both her legs in an accident.

She said: “I was 29, and had just started my own company when my life changed forever when I lost both my legs in an accident. I had never imagined that I would have care and support needs. I'm lucky - I have lots of wonderful friends, I do a lot of socialising, I have a great family and I love my work. I would urge people to have their say on the future of care and support, as most of us come into contact with the system at some point in our lives.”

Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Harrogate, Andy Burnham MP said: "I am encouraged by the response to our Big Care Debate and welcome the fact that other political parties are beginning to put their ideas on the table. There are big differences between what we are saying but we are beginning to create what I wanted to see - unstoppable momentum for legislation in the next Parliament.

"But, while the debate is moving quickly, I do want to stress that the door is wide open for discussion. We are still in a consultation period. No decisions have been made on funding options. We are still listening – about funding, about structures, and about how to build a forward-looking system of care.

"One avenue I do want to close down, however, is the debate and controversy over Disability Living Allowance.

"We recognise that this is an important benefit for disabled people, and I can state categorically that we have now ruled out any suggestion that DLA for under-65s will be brought into the new National Care Service.

"This is because, whilst there will be increases in the numbers of disabled people of working age who need care, the majority of the people needing care in the future will be older people.

"However, we do think there may be a case for bringing together elements of some disability benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, with social care funding, to create a new care and support system to provide for the needs of older and disabled people.

"But the important principle is that people receiving any of the relevant benefits at the time of reform would continue to receive an equivalent level of support and protection under a new and better care and support system.

"And let's not forget, everyone - regardless of wealth or asset base – will benefit from the protection and peace of mind that the National Care Service will provide."

The Government is currently carrying out a consultation – the Big Care Debate - on the new National Care Service, a vision for which was set out in July’s Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together. The Big Care Debate continues until 13th November.

The roadshow will pull in to Stoke on Trent on 20th October, Liverpool on the 21st and 22nd October and York on the 25th October. Details below. 

Since July, DH staff and Ministers have been touring England in a programme of regional public and stakeholder events, consulting people on the reform options set out in the Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together.

The roadshow, which has been visiting town centres and public events, is a key part of the Government’s consultation strategy. It helps raise awareness of the issues contained in the Green Paper, and allows people to have their say on the major issues around reform of the adult care and support system and the creation of a new National Care Service.

“It is our duty to listen to people so that, in future, as many people as possible get the care and support they need under the new National Care Service that is fair, easy to understand, and affordable in the long term,” said Care Services Minister Phil Hope.

Visitors can sit and watch information videos and talk to Big Care Debate representatives. They can fill in the Big Care Questionnaire, or have their say via the Big Care Debate website on a touch screen computer.
 
Further events are currently being confirmed, details will appear on this website as soon as they are available. These will be all over England, so there is likely to be an event near you. Watch this space. 

“I urge everybody out there to get stuck in and have their say. Please have your say at the events, or through the roadshow, or via our website. Any way you can,” said Mr Hope.

The Big Care Debate ends on the 13th of November.

Confirmed venues:

Stoke on Trent – Tontine Square, Staffordshire ST1
Liverpool – Site 5, Main Site, Liverpool One, 5 Wall Street L1 8JQ
York – Parliament Street, YO1

The roadshow sets up between 10.00 and 18.00

Neill Hunt, the Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Society, has spoken positively about an upcoming study of personal budgets at 20 sites across England. (08 Oct)

Carers UK have backed the Daily Mirror’s ‘Care for Carers’ campaign. (12 Oct)

The Financial Times also reports that Labour and the Conservatives are currently vying to reform the care and support system in England. (10 Oct)

General Care
The Independent writes that the National Pensioners’ Convention have described the Conservatives’ care plans as ‘unrealistic’. (05 Oct)

The Times reports that some elderly people would still have to pay ‘top-up’ care fees under Conservative plans. (06 Oct)

The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Daily Mail, Daily Express and BBC Web record a finding by researchers that 70% of care home residents are being given the wrong drug treatments. (06 Oct)

In a letter to The Guardian, representatives from 7 organisations call on Phil Hope to take action on the issue of mentally ill people sleeping rough. (09 Oct)

Dementia in the Press
The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and BBC News report on new research suggesting that more than 75% of patients with dementia receive strong sedatives in hospital to calm them down. (07 Oct)

A new National Care Service will help take the fear out of getting older Health Secretary Andy Burnham pledged as new figures came out showing that ageing is a real worry for most people. 

In a Department of Health survey, 86 per cent of people said they are worried about getting older. 

The survey showed that:

• more than half (54 per cent) worry about losing their mind and memory;
• the same number of people (54 per cent) worry about illness or infirmity;
• 39 per cent worry about being lonely; and
• 38 per cent worry about poverty.

However, 8 per cent of people surveyed hoped they wouldn’t get to an age where they would have to worry about these things.

The Government is currently consulting with the public on the future of care services, following publication of a Green Paper earlier this year. Under the proposals, a National Care Service would be created, making care for older and disabled people simpler, fairer and more affordable for everyone. As part of this the Prime Minister recently announced plans to make home care free for the people with the greatest care needs.

The consultation for the Big Care Debate closes one month from today, on the 13 November.

Andy Burnham said:

“Of course many of us worry about getting ill or not getting about so easily when we get old, that’s only natural. But I don’t want people to worry about how they will be looked after and how that care will be paid for.

“That’s why we’re proposing a National Care Service which will take away some of the fear of getting older. We should all be able to look forward to old age and feel confident that if they need care, the right services will be there for us.

“We’re currently having a big care debate with the public about how to make this National Care Service simple, fair and affordable for all. The debate ends in a month and its essential people have their say.”

Half of all men and two in three women will end up needing care at some point, and if someone has more than £23,000 in savings, they will need to meet all the costs themselves. The costs average £30,000, but for someone with dementia they could be as high as £200,000.

There are three proposals for funding a National Care Service:

• Partnership – the responsibility for paying for care would be shared between the Government and the person who has care needs. The Government provides between a quarter and a third of the cost of care, more for people on a low income. Today’s 65 year olds will need care costing on average £30,000.

• Insurance – the same as partnership but the Government could help people to prepare to meet the costs that they would have to pay for themselves, through an insurance-based approach. As well as receiving between a third and a quarter of the cost of care, the Government would make it easier for people to take out insurance to cover care costs. It is estimated that the cost of insurance could be around £20,000 to £25,000.

• Comprehensive – everyone who can afford it would pay into a state insurance scheme meaning everyone who needs care will receive it free. It is estimated that the cost of being in the system could be between £17,000 and £20,000.

Under the National Care Service, everyone will get at least some care for free. The Government wants to hear people’s views on how we balance what it is fair for everyone to pay, against the need to protect some people from having to pay huge care costs.
Notes to Editors

The Department of Health survey was undertaken by Opinion Matters between 13 and 22 July 2009. 2003 adults in England took part.

The Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together, published on 14 July, set out a vision for a National Care Service. A service which is fair, simple and affordable for all adults. Everyone in England will be guaranteed:

• Prevention services - the right support to stay independent and well for as long as possible and to delay care needs getting worse. 

• National assessment - care needs will be assessed in the same way across the country.

• Joined-up services - all the services will work together smoothly.

• Information and advice – the care system will be easy to understand and navigate.

• Personalised care and support - services will be based on personal circumstances and need.

• Fair funding - money will be spent wisely and everyone will get some help meeting the high cost of care needs.

Department of Health staff and Ministers have been touring the country in a programme of regional public roadshows and stakeholder events, consulting people on the reform options set out in the Green paper Shaping the Future of Care Together.

“It has been really quite inspiring, meeting people and hearing their stories,” said Care Services Minister Phil Hope. “We have all been bowled over by how engaged many people are in this debate. Their passion has been remarkable.” 

The first regional programme events took place in July, with stakeholders in the South East attending two days of events in Reading and Tonbridge.  

The three events set the pattern for subsequent events. A wide range of carers, service users and providers from across the public, private and third sectors took part in themed table discussions, focusing on different aspects of the proposed reforms.

Further events have taken place in the West Midlands, the North East, the East Midlands, the East of England, the South West and Yorkshire/Humberside. Further events will take place in London and other regions in the coming weeks. 

The Big Care Debate public roadshow is visiting town centres and public events such as county shows in the same regions as the stakeholder events. The first took place in Derby in late August.

Visitors can sit and watch information videos and talk to Big Care Debate representatives. They can fill in the Big Care Questionnaire, or have their say via the Big Care Debate website on a touch screen computer.

The Department of Health’s Director General of Social Care David Behan visited the Manchester and Newcastle events, while Phil Hope took to the streets of Darlington, Nottingham and Exeter.

“There are so many stories, some good and some not so good. People have very different experiences of the care and support system, just as they have different expectations and ask different things of it,” said Mr Hope.

“It is our duty to listen to them so that, in future, as many people as possible get the care and support they need under the new National Care Service that is fair, easy to understand, and affordable in the long term.”
 
Thousands more people have joined the debate through the care and support website, or by filling in the Big Care Questionnaire or public leaflet which has been placed in GP surgeries and other public places.

In addition, sponsored features have been placed in a variety of magazines, telling people how they can have their say.

“I urge everybody out there to get stuck in and have their say,” said Mr Hope. “Please have your say at the events, or through the roadshow, or via our website. Any way you can.

“This is a great opportunity for us all to shape the future of care together. If we can get it right we will create something of which we can all be proud.”  

The Big Care Debate ends on 13th November.

Niall Dickson also welcomed David Cameron’s concern with social care, but said that there is a need to look beyond residential care. (03 Oct)

Carers UK have welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of free home care for elderly people with high needs. (29 Sep)

In response to the Conservatives’ statement on care policy, Carers UK have welcomed the signs that a consensus on a need for change is emerging and stated that bold moves are needed on the issue. (05 Oct)

Under new legislation, all regulated health and adult social care services will have to register with the Care Quality Commission. (30 Sep)

http://www.cqc.org.uk//newsandevents/newsstories.cfm?cit_id=35377&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=false

• The Care Quality Commission have announced a consultation on their priorities for 2010-15. (01 Oct)

http://www.cqc.org.uk//newsandevents/newsstories.cfm?cit_id=35379&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache=false

Counsel and Care have welcomed statements from both Labour and the Conservatives on care, calling for it to be made the big issue of the next election. (03 Oct)

http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/influence/news/

Niall Dickson also welcomed David Cameron’s concern with social care, but said that there is a need to look beyond residential care. (03 Oct)

Carers UK have welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of free home care for elderly people with high needs. (29 Sep)

In response to the Conservatives’ statement on care policy, Carers UK have welcomed the signs that a consensus on a need for change is emerging and stated that bold moves are needed on the issue. (05 Oct)

Counsel and Care have welcomed statements from both Labour and the Conservatives on care, calling for it to be made the big issue of the next election. (03 Oct)

The Times, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Telegraph, and The Guardian all report that Gordon Brown has promised free home care for elderly people with high needs. (30 Sep)

In The Guardian, Polly Toynbee describes the National Care Service as Labour’s best plan, while David Brindle favours personal budgets for care. (30 Sep)

BBC Web states that the Big Care Debate is visiting Leeds and Hull to get people’s opinions on a National Care Service. (30 Sep)

The Daily Telegraph, The Times, Daily Mail and Daily Express write about  Conservative plans to introduce an £8000 care fee. (03 Oct)

The Sunday Telegraph records a warning from experts that Conservative plans for a voluntary care fee could unintentionally force many elderly people into care homes. (04 Oct)

Sunday Mirror reports that Labour have accused Conservative plans of being unworkable. (04 Oct)

General Care
The Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and Daily Mail write that the son of a 106-year-old woman has pledged to go to the European Court of Human Rights to prevent her being evicted from her care home. (28 Sep)

In The Guardian, Siobhan Butterworth discusses the controversy after a Guardian feature on care homes used a picture which identified a resident without consent. (28 Sep)

The Daily Telegraph reports that shares in Care UK rose by 27% the day after it revealed it had rejected a takeover approach from a private equity company. (01 Oct)

Britain’s Ageing Population
The Daily Telegraph records a report claiming that medical breakthroughs and lifestyle changes have meant that pensioners are today far healthier than stereotypes suggest. (28 Sep) 

The Daily Telegraph writes that the number of people aged over 110 will rise rapidly in England and Wales over the next 25 years. (01 Oct)

The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Express and Metro report that babies born today are expected to live past 100. (02 Oct)

Trevor Phillips states in The Guardian that the number of people of working age for every pensioner will fall to less than 3 by 2031. (03 Oct)

Dementia in the press
The Daily Mail and BBC Web write that the Nuffield Council on Bioethics have criticised the lack of support available for dementia patients after diagnosis. (01 Oct)

The Daily Telegraph and Daily Express report that extra virgin olive oil could prevent Alzheimer’s. (02 Oct)

General
The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Mail,  Daily Mirror,  and Evening Standard discuss Andy Burnham’s pledge to abolish hospital car parking charges. (01 Oct)

The Guardian, Daily Express and Daily Mail report on the IMF’s warnings to the Government that they must reform the pensions system and raise the retirement age.  (02 Oct)