To ask what we do to help with the cost of social care?

[AdultsSocialCare]

Adult and childrens social care takes up the majority of all council tax spend. This leaves a small amount for everything else that councils do.

What is the solution?

I feel like ultimately the central government need to give more money to councils but the chance of that has to be next to nil.

So, what else?

Isn't that why councils were allowed to put council tax up more than usual a few years ago? We were told that the extra % was to cover social care

I can assure you it does not cover social care. Care provision is woefully under resourced and unavailable. If you need care you will NOT get the package you need, let alone want.

It's only going to get worse when the care cap comes in. Apparently the NI increase to pay for it isn't happening now so fuck knows where the money is coming from.

I think 2 weeks work experience for year 11's could be in a care home for an extra GCSE, credits for Uni, vouchers etc

Tax credits if you look after a relative with care needs or reduction in council tax depending on how much they need help.

Money to build a granny annex or extension for you to look after a relative in your home for at least 5 years or until death.

Better preventative measure so that it doesn't reach the need of people needing expensive care. For example more mental health support and ways to keep people active and healthy as they get older.

These are a lot cheaper than long term or even some short term care packages.

Sterilise those who keep on having baby after baby that's always taken into foster care? GCSE students work in care homes for their work experience?

Goodness knows, the government can't even help with the energy crisis let alone the care crisis.

We as in individuals, or we as in collective society?

It may have gone a teeny tiny way towards the social care but it definitely wouldn't have covered it.

People are living longer and care is not cheap.

I’m quite sure that sending in a bunch of unqualified teens in is not the answer. It would require more staff and more cost to organise and supervise for a start.

Nationalise care providers.

Having to look after and mentor children in a care home would make my job harder and definitely not solve the crisis. I begrudge having to do the odd shadow shift with an adult, let alone a constant stream of teenagers

What could or should be done in any sense I guess.

Could be central government initiatives or things that local government could do radically differently or societal changes.

Extreme could be legalise euthanasia.

Lighter touch could be councils building and running their own care homes rather than line the pockets of the private ones.

It could work if rejigged instead of 2 weeks make it 6 months at 1.5-2 hours a week. Instead of hands on care make it a befriending scheme.

Gosh thanks for the talking points. You are certainly interested in stoking discussion without actually participating.

How odd.

I was thinking more along the lines that they could help with task such as cleaning, food prep, admin. Which could help free up some of the employees to do the personal care side.

I wouldn't be happy for my child to go off performing slave labour for profit. Would you?

I’m not sure there is another answer other than more money from central government.

Central government gets a huge amount of tax from us in the many various ways that aren’t council tax and it’s outrageous that they don’t use some of that to pay for arguably two of the most important things any government can provide - a police service and a care service.

As soon as everybody turns up to suggest we put the elderly down when they cost too much this thread is going to become a newspaper article.

Yes I would be happy, it wouldn't be slave labour if they get a qualification out of it and if its for a short time.

It could teach them how society looks after people who need the most care and where they could end up themselves one day.

people will have to pay more tax eg CGT, IHT or wealth.

You're a mug then.

You suggested they do meal prep and admin. Not sure what they are learning other than we treat our elderly so poorly we force kids to chop their carrots to profit American private equity firms.

Actually that's not a bad lesson to learn.

Some people on here seem to have no idea that caring is a skilled role.

we also have the issue that historically slack was picked up by women taking on caring roles but not sure how this is possible when retirement age is moving further out & cost of living crisis means plenty will have no choice but to work.

For a GCSE that will get them some where in life I'm happy for them to do it. It is also optional. If you don't want your children to do it then don't.

two of my kids worked in care homes PT whilst studying. It can be quite a good job, but some of the patients were quite violent and clearing up poo isnt for everyone.

I think there ought to be a debate on euthanasia (even if not related to reducing care home costs). I have a relative who has been dying for quite some time. If they were my dog i would have put them down months ago - purely because it would have been cruel to keep my dog alive under these circumstances.

How easy is it to use collateral in your house to pay for your costs - could this be made easier? I dont agree with Income tax increasing so people dont have to sell their houses - why should people who will never afford a house pay higher taxes?

Do you really think that teenagers “helping out” 1.5-2 hours a week for 6 months will make any significant impact? Caring for people be they relatives, the elderly, young disabled or children is a skilled job and is definitely not for everyone and they’d have to be paid if they were doing anything beyond “befriending” e.g. changing incontinence pads, washing dressing etc. At the moment the care system can’t even provide that level of care because there are no staff.
Obviously the whole system requires more money so that staff can be properly paid e.g a decent wage for the exceedingly difficult and mentally and physically demanding job they do. Staff need proper training not a see one do one teach one type training that generally currently exists and the opportunity to progress their careers if they wish too. And whilst private companies run care and making a profit is there bottom line (I’m not blaming them for this in general but it’s inappropriate in the care sector) corners will cut staff will be poorly paid training will be woefully inadequate or often no or little equipment will be provided.