Audley Retirement Villages' response to the care cap

Thursday, 16 August 2012

Nick Sanderson, CEO of Audley Retirement Villages, said:

"The new rumours coming out of Downing Street are encouraging, if only to show that the Government is now willing to take some action after a weak response to the issues in the White Paper on Social Care Reform. However the debate around how we fund long term care is redundant for as long as it continues to support a failed system.

"Imposing this care cap does not address a fundamental truth – that as our research has shown, no one wants institutional care in old age. We must champion alternative and sustainable models for living that will better meet the demands of an ageing population and provide real solutions to very real challenges. Extra care housing is one such solution, providing independent living and flexible care as needed, and in private homes.

"Let’s look beyond thinking only about how we fund later life care, and instead celebrate and increase housing options that meet the needs and aspirations of retirement. We can take the fear out of retirement by introducing choice and promoting independence to ensure older people stay in control of their finances and how they live their lives."