Age UK have today published the latest edition of their State of Health and Care report.
This report, now in its tenth year, starkly sets out the harrowing experiences of older people seeking health and social care. It describes a situation in which healthy life expectancy is decreasing, significant inequalities caused by disparities in income and geography are rife, and older people often cannot access the health and care services that they need in a timely fashion.
Alongside the challenges, the report also highlights the opportunities that now present themselves with the implementation of the Ten Year Health Plan, the shift to neighbourhood health, the upcoming workforce plan, and the Casey Commission into social care. The report’s recommendations urge the Government to prioritise older people in its current health reforms. Investment in community service is needed, including preventative, emergency and rehabilitation services. This should not be held up waiting for reforms to social care, and the Casey Commission is urged to report sooner than planned in the current schedule.
Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, BGS President, said:
We welcome this new report from Age UK laying out the challenges facing older people’s health and care and the opportunities for progress. These practical recommendations, if enacted, will make a noticeable and much needed difference to the experiences of older people seeking health and care. We urge the Government to act upon these recommendations to improve services for older people across England. We know that if health and care services work for older people, they are more likely to work for everyone else."