You may have seen the recent BBC Panorama programme on social care; ‘Crisis in Care – who cares?’. It was a heart-breaking watch perfectly shining a light on our failing care system.
Somerset council allowed the BBC’s cameras into their area to show the devastating impact of years of budget cuts and the extent to which balancing their books impacts the daily lives of the most vulnerable older people in our society.
The huge strains on services affects people like Rachel and her mum who lives with dementia. Featured as a story in the programme, Rachel relied on a local day centre for support but in the last round of cuts they didn’t get a decent replacement and now they struggle without vital respite. Families are having to fight tooth and nail to get what they are entitled to.
The prospect of the promised social care green paper ever being delivered is looking more and more unlikely as time goes by. For over two years now we’ve been promised action and seen nothing to back that up.
To watch the short Age UK video “Why call it care when nobody carers? click this link: https://youtu.be/jBck4ZjwefE
Earlier last year we (Age UK) showed heart-breaking stories of people from across the country who are in similar situations to Michael, Barbara, Rachel and her mother. We ask you to please share this on social media to help our call for Government action. They need to know that this issue really matters to thousands of us.
We have an ageing population and it is time to get real. More and more of us will need support when we grow older. It is time the Government and our next Prime Minister, tackled this problem head on.
Age UK Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, on behalf of Age UK have requested we share the above article and video link. If you have any comments taht you would like to make to Age UK, please comment on Age UK website www.ageuk.org.uk/campaigns or use Twitter @ageukcampaigns