Last year the Government published its Green Paper “Shaping the future of care together” which started the “Big Care debate”.  The paper proposed a number of reforms and the resulting consultation from that has now led to the White Paper which sets out the Government’s intention in relation to providing care for our ever growing ageing population.

The reforms are to be staggered over the next four to five years.  The first stage is to focus on the provision of care and services in the community – central to which is providing free care to people in their own home (those with the highest needs).

The second stage relates to extending care entitlements so that anyone staying in residential care for more than two years will receive free care after the second year.  Care costs are to be differentiated from accommodation costs, so costs associated with food and utilities are not included.

At this point, a Commission will be established to determine the fairest way for people to contribute towards these charges…a “fair care contribution”.

The White Paper says the rights things, seems to make sensible recommendations, BUT the overwhelming question outstanding is…where will the money come from?  There needs to be some £4billion to ensure the success of the proposals yet it is expected that a £1.75billion deficit will open up in respect of social care funding over the next two years.