In a bid to bring a little bit of a dose of reality to proceedings, the Money Debate calls Symponia joint managing director Jeremy Davies to ask for his take on the heated debate around long term care. Symponia is a network of advisers providing advice to the over 65s.
Davies is actually happy to see the issue getting such a high profile but is less enthused by any of the political parties’ plans which, he says, simply do not add up to providing affordable care.
Indeed, rather than yesterday’s discussion about what Blair did on the pensions, he remembers what Blair said about care in 1997 i.e. no-one need worry about losing their home on my watch.
I find myself wondering why no political party has made this the centre of an attack on the Government only to realise that they probably can’t because none of their plans would allow them to give such an assurance either.
Davies has some other grim observations. First, Scotland, despite its promise on care is running out of money earlier and earlier in each financial year.
As for England and Wales none of the parties’ plans are viable in terms of affordability, all the solutions are too simplistic and there are too many soundbites.
The £8,000 suggested by the Labour Government might buy a care package but would not cover hotel costs or sustainance. Tory promises to meet the care of anyone still requiring it after three years will only cover a minority – most people will have passed on.
The Government’s current reforms kick in in 2014 so many thousands will still face uncertainty even if it was a comprehensive solution after that date.
The Money Debate sees another issue. This lack of certainty, and all this electioneering, means that the huge issue of care costs may not be dealt with any time soon. In this fog of confusion some people who would have the wherewithal to pay for their care if they planned properly may not do so.
“People have a visceral belief that they have the right to pass on all their assets, while the rest of us pay for their care.” Joan Bakewell on Newsnight
Says it all as far as I’m concerned. Until people realize that they have no right to pass on a home to their children and expect me to pay we will get no where. The state should offer some sort of partnership deal but where there is insufficient cash to pay for care then I see no problem in taking the money from the sale of the home once both husband and wife are dead.