Funding cuts are meaning over a million older people are left without basic social care

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• 14 Apr

  Experts have said that the number of people needing help with day to day tasks being left to struggle due to lack of state funded social care has hit a million.

  Age UK have estimated that last year 900,000 people aged between 65 and 89 have unmet social care needs, however now believe it's closer to one million, reports The Independent.

  Age UK's chief executive Caroline Abrahams has said that the issue of social care is the most important issue for voters in the next election.

  40% of cuts to government funding for local councils, who provide the majority of social care, has left a huge impact on older people, and leaves many struggling with basic tasks.

  Figures from Age UK show 250,000 people who qualify for help in the home due to difficulty getting up and down stairs receive no support. The figures also show 5000,000 people who require help with washing and almost 600,000 people who require assistance with dressing are getting no support.

  Ms Abrahams said: "The importance of good social care really hits home when it touches you or those closest to you. From that point of view, it is notable that many of our leading politicians are only in their forties so they are probably too young to be seeing the huge value of social care for themselves. But in 10 years' time it is likely that many of them will be worrying about mum or dad's capacity to cope as they become frailer and trying to see if they can get home to help as part of their busy working lives."

  Age UK estimates that it would cost £3.36bn - only 0.22 per cent of English GDP - to meet the needs of all elderly people with moderate care requirements.

  What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions

  By Laura Matthews

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