Older Generations Call For Next Prime Minister to Deliver Social Care Solutions

More than 200 elderly people across the country are today making personal appeals for Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson to announce plans addressing issues faced by our ageing population

Care and retirement home residents from properties run by Anchor Hanover have today joined the organisation’s Chief Executive, Jane Ashcroft CBE, in signing a letter demanding change after years of government inaction.

Over recent weeks, the two Prime Minister hopefuls have each vowed to prioritise the needs of older people as well as to tackle the deepening social care crisis. The joint letter sent today highlights the frustration and desperation of the country’s older generations, who feel that their voice has been ignored by successive governments, with promises to deliver reform being broken.

The news of this letter coincides with the release of new research from Anchor Hanover, the country’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing for older people. New figures reveal 68% of people do not trust the government to deliver on social care reform.

Highlighting the increased pressure on services providing vital assistance for our population, today 1.4 million elderly people across England are not having their care needs met. 73% of people worry that they will not be able to afford decent care for themselves later in life, with seven in 10 concerned about affording care costs for loved ones.

According to research, a concerning 25% of us wrongly believe that the state will always pay to meet our social care needs later in life.

Jane Ashcroft CBE, said:

“It is appalling that the voices of older people continue to be ignored, and their increasingly urgent needs have been neglected countless times in the wake of political turbulence. The impact this has on their lives is shocking and unacceptable. We must do better for today’s and tomorrow’s older people.

“After years of disappointment, an alarming 68% of people do not trust the government to deliver on social care reform. Our next Prime Minister must turn this around and finally deliver the solutions we have been calling for. Older people have spoken, and we are proud to stand with them. We demand action rather than yet more unfulfilled promises for our ageing population.”

Brian Johnson, who has lived at Anchor Hanover’s Hanover Court retirement scheme for 17 years has signed the letter to Boris Johnson and Jeremey Hunt. He commented:

“There are so many urgent issues facing older people like me that have been ignored for far too long. The government has a responsibility to listen to our concerns and act now to support us in later life. We need solutions now so that we can enjoy the quality of life we deserve, and we need long-term solutions to help future generations as they grow older.

“Our next Prime Minister has a real opportunity to make a difference to us all. We hope we are finally listened to.”

Photo by Adolfo Félix on Unsplash