52 percent of over-45s think coronavirus crisis will act as catalyst for social care reform



Published by Just Group, a new report has detailed whether over-45s believe the coronavirus pandemic will act as a catalyst for social care reform.
Entitled ‘ Social care: Coronavirus – can the catastrophe be a catalyst? ’, it is the eighth edition of Just Group’s annual care report, which explores how over-45s think and feel about adult social care.
However, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting just about every facet of daily life, this year’s report, instead, looks at whether the global pandemic will act as a catalyst to social care funding and policy reforms in England or whether it will exacerbate the social care situation.
Stephen Lowe, Group Communications Director at Just Group, says within the report: “Care funding reform has been on the political agenda for more than two decades but is yet to make it to the top.
“Coronavirus has ravaged through many care homes in recent months, leading to thousands more deaths of elderly people than would normally be expected.
“The coronavirus crisis has brought much grief and difficulty but it also offers what is perhaps a unique opportunity to bring forward much-needed reforms that give people a reason to talk and to plan for a better future. It is an opportunity our leaders should seize.”
According to report, industry experts believe over half of the deaths caused by the coronavirus in England will be among care home residents.
Furthermore, 56 percent of the over-45s quizzed think that the lack of progress on social care policy by successive UK Governments made it harder for the social care sector to respond to COVID-19.
With the virus having such a devastating impact on the social care sector, 52 percent of the respondents believe that social care policy reform will be among the UK Government’s priorities.
In contrast, the report outlines that three in 10 over-45s disagree that social care reform will be pushed up the government’s agenda. 58 percent said they believe the government will have other priorities – such as the economy and Brexit – 37 percent think there will be a shortage of government funds and 28 percent said that the government will not want to make unpopular decisions.
The lack of social care funding and policy by the UK Government is not new news and has consistently been criticised by various organisations in recent years.
In the State of Local Government Finance Survey 2020, adult social care was named the top long-term financial pressure for councils, with nearly all of the councils expressing dismay on the government’s failure to deliver a long-term social care strategy.
Although Just Group’s latest report uncovered differing opinions amongst over-45s as to whether the COVID-19 crisis will be a catalyst for social care reform, it revealed that there is broad agreement on what constitutes fairness in paying for care, regardless of political affiliation.
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