(My Original Blog Post: http://ping.fm/GPf5g)
Every four years or so an election tends to make politicians focus on issues that are vote winners. One such issue is the current lack of care for the elderly. Long Term care is a key battleground for all the parties.
The number of people in the UK requiring long term care has been increasing over the last decade and it will continue to increase.
Whether the Government and the UK are able and willing to provide the level of care that the general public expect is another matter.
Gordon Brown was treated to a public dressing down by David Cameron this week at Prime Ministers Question Time. His announcement to improve home care was met with scepticism. The PM also avoided the question posed about how care was to be paid for. The indication it that a tax after death might be levied ranging between £17,000 and £20,000.
The plan is intended to start in October with central government picking up most of the £670 million cost, while councils will provide the remaining £250 million.
Local councils are worried that the cost of care will be too much for local authorities to pay for. A large number of councillors have written to the Times to raise their concerns.
There is no easy answer to how we should care for the elderly in our communities, but we should at least provide a better level of support and ability to finance care when compared to the current situation.
Whether any party has the gumption to tackle such an important issue we will have to wait and see.
Financial Advisers are ideally placed to help provide support and guidance in addition to charities such as help the aged and local authorities.
