Could partnership model solve care fees dilemma?

The King’s Fund, a charity that seeks to understand how the health system in England can be improved, has said that a partnership between the State and individuals is the best way to tackle social care reform.

Social care remains high on the policy agenda for every political party. It is generally accepted that a radical overhaul of the current system is required, in order to cope with the challenges posed by an ageing population.

The report from The King’s Fund, Securing Good Care for More People, updates an original review by Sir Derek Wanless commissioned in 2006. That review proposed a ‘partnership model’ where costs were shared between the State and the individual.

The new report concludes that an updated partnership model is the best solution. It proposes that the State should guarantee to pay 50% of everyone’s care costs and also match every £2 contributed by individuals with a further £1.

The report also discusses some options for reforming Attendance Allowance.

If left as it is, the current system will double in cost over the next fifteen years, with no improvement in outcomes.

The reform of social care in England is one important topic that will not go away quietly. This report from The King’s Fund is possibly the most practical and affordable we have seen to date.