Council tax rises insufficient to cover increasing care costs

Council tax increases will fail to generate sufficient funds to support the growing demand for elderly care, local authorities have warned.

Council tax increases will fail to generate sufficient funds to support the growing demand for elderly care, local authorities have warned.

90% of local authorities have stated their intention to raise council tax rates by 2% from April to increase elderly care funding, following authorisation from the government in 2015.

However, the Local Government Association (LGA) has stated that most of the £372m raised per annum will be absorbed by rising demand and the National Living Wage.

LGA vice-chair Councillor Nick Forbes said: “Councils will continue to do all they can to maintain the services that older and vulnerable people rely on, but services supporting the elderly and disabled are at breaking point. It cannot be left to council taxpayers alone to try and fix them… and the threat of a care home crisis is still very real.”

Between 2005 and 2014, the number of people aged 85 or over rose by 30%. The LGA states that this trend will contribute significantly to a £2.9bn shortfall in care services by 2020.

A recent survey by ComRes for BBC 5 Live found that 74% of respondents would be willing to pay more in council tax to protect services for the elderly.

Fiona Lowry, our CEO, commented: “At Good Care Group, we want to ensure that elderly people have access to the high-standard of care services that they deserve. Our live-in carers can help to provide support and companionship for your loved ones in their daily activities, as well as giving them a greater sense of independence and dignity. We’ve carried out extensive research on care practices that are beneficial for the elderly, and we have found that it is clearly favourable to a person’s wellbeing that they stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own home for as long as possible.”