The Liberal Democrats poll showed one in five pensioners think they will leave ‘nothing' behind due to social care costs, with over half (55%) concerned that social care costs will significantly reduce the amount they can leave behind for loved ones and 54% saying the Government does not pay enough attention to the crisis hit sector.
Liberal Democrat health and social care spokesperson, Helen Morgan, said: ‘This is a crisis that the Government has refused to address in a meaningful way, kicking reforms into the long-grass with patients bearing the brunt of these short-sighted decisions.
‘If we are to finally end the crisis in social care and remove the all too real worries that people have, the Government must complete their review by the end of the year so reforms can be implemented with the urgency they deserve. Without it the 10-Year Plan for the NHS risks falling short of the mark, without the joined-up thinking needed to fix social care and the underlying problems in the health service.'
The poll also found 47% of people generally think that they will only be able to leave half or less of their intended inheritance for their loved ones after accounting for social care costs, with 16% of all people thinking they will leave ‘nothing' at all. Just 24% of people said they would be able to leave more than half of their intended inheritance.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This Government is committed to building a National Care Service that is fair and affordable for all.
‘We have already taken decisive action, helping people live independently in their own homes by providing £172m for the Disabled Facilities Grant, increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit, and strengthening care careers through a new career structure, qualifications and opportunities for learning and development.
‘But there is far more to do. Baroness Casey has started her work on the independent commission into adult social care and will build cross-party consensus. She will publish her first recommendations for proper reform of social care next year.'
