Health Secretary Andy Burnham has launced the National Care Service in England which will provide free care to anyone who is old or disabled.
It will be funded by contributions from everyone in a fair way and so will protect people's savings or homes in the event of them needing long term care.
People who have to live in residential care will, from 2014, get their care for free after two years and there will be more help to pay the residential costs. Andy Burnham also said there will be more support for carers under the new system.
The introduction of a National Care Service followed the largest ever public consultation on care and support with 68,000 individuals and representatives from organisations giving their views. However, a decision has yet to be reached on how people would pay into that system in a fair and sustainable way.
The principles of the National Care Service are that it will:
- Be universal - supporting all adults with care and support needs
- Be free at the point of use - based on need, rather than ability to pay
- Work in partnership - with organisations who support individuals with care needs
- Treat people with respect and dignity and give them choice and control
- Support families and carers
- Be accessible.
For more information, see www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm