Inquiry into elderly care 'lottery'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A fundamental review of the criteria for determining the needs of older and disabled people by councils is to be undertaken by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis said.

The move comes after a CSCI report said a national set of rules on who is eligible for support has not prevented variations both within and between councils in determining who receives help.

A report by the CCSI on the state of social care in England said there is a stark difference between the experiences of those who qualify for council help and those who fall outside the system.

Those who qualify are having a better experience than ever before, the report said, but those who do not, including those who have to pay, have a poor-quality experience that can leave them "struggling to cope".

Figures from the CSI show 73% of local authorities planned in the year 2006/07 to refuse care to people whose needs are not considered to be "substantial" or "critical". This excludes people with "moderate" needs who cannot carry out daily routines such as getting up in the morning, bathing and doing the washing up.

The report also shows a fall in the numbers of numbers of households receiving supported home care from 479,000 in 1997 to 358,000 in 2006.

An estimated 6,000 older people with "high support needs" - such as needing help with bathing and eating - receive no services and have no informal care, it said. A further 275,000 older people with less intensive needs - such a carrying out tasks such as shopping - are also estimated to be in the same position, it estimated.

It estimates that 450,000 older people who do get support from family and friends, and may also be receiving some services, have a shortfall in their personal care.

Announcing the review, Mr Lewis said: "I want to see an end to the 'no help here' culture, which is now creeping into parts of the care system. There will always be a need for a national social care framework, but the existing system is leaving too many families on their own and runs the risk of damaging our commitment to support older and disabled people to live independently."