Last Updated on May 17, 2017

Age UK is calling on political parties to put social care at the heart of their election manifestos as it reveals that the failing social care system is leaving a third of over 80s receiving inadequate care and support.

Age UK’s research into the failing social care system leading up to the General Election has focused on the staggering number of older people who do not get the help they need with Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

There are around 2,622,000 people over 80 living in England. Almost a million need assistance with at least one ADL and thousands need assistance with several different ADLs. Shockingly, as these figures show, more than half of those who need help with three or more ADLs have been worst affected by the gap in availability of adequate social care.

Of the 926,000 over 80s with at least one Activity of Daily Living need:

• 53% get no assistance at all.
• Of those who do get help, for 70% it does not fully meet their needs.
• 794,000 do not receive any help or receive support that does not always meet their needs.

Of the 260,000 people over 80 with three or more needs relating to Activities of Daily Living:

• 33% are not receiving any help.
• 56% have unmet needs due to not receiving enough help.

As the 2017 General Election approaches on 8th June, Age UK is urging the next Government to ensure that older people receive dignified care at home, in hospital and in care homes, have a decent income and live a life free from loneliness. To spread its message, Age UK has launched its manifesto Dignity in older age and a later life worth living Age UK’s ambition for the next Parliament 2017-2022.

Age UK is also encouraging people to ask their prospective MPs to become an Age Champion, to change the situation facing older people who have been affected by cuts to social care, pressures on the NHS, pensioner poverty, and loneliness.