Opinion: Shifting care priorities – what the government’s Budget should’ve included
When the Autumn Budget was first revealed, dozens of social care experts were quick to express their thoughts. However, as the dust settles, John Ramsay of Social-Ability, analyses what the new plan actually means for the care sector.
The NHS was a big focus in this year’s Autumn Budget, with the Chancellor announcing a £22.6 billion cash boost over the next two years. This funding will go toward increasing hospital beds, expanding diagnostic test capacity, creating new surgical hubs, and supporting hospital programs. In contrast, social care received only a fleeting nod with a £600 million grant for local governments—a mention that hardly reflects the sector’s urgent needs.
Social care can’t afford to be an afterthought – it needs a spotlight. The World Health Organisation has projected that one in six people will be over 60 by 2030, and demand for elderly care—particularly dementia care—is rising faster than ever.
Dementia and other cognitive issues impose a high cost and burden on existing services, with GPs spending almost 4.1 million hours with dementia patients annually. Additionally, with the planned social care cap being cut, families across the UK are being forced to cope alone with the skyrocketing costs of care. Dementia is expected to rise by 40% over the next 15 years and is already at record levels in England.
So why is this an issue that’s been ignored, what have the solutions been to date, and what does the future hold? One thing’s for sure, the Government must take action and treat social care as a clear priority.
Why more attention needs to be paid to the social care crisis
There is a long history of the care sector being overlooked, with past government promises often left undelivered or stalled. This year alone, the planned social care cost cap which could have limited care costs to £86,000 over a lifetime was scrapped, leaving millions of families and elderly individuals feeling hopeless and struggling for support.
Now, the burden of adult social care costs has largely fallen on families and those in need. If an individual’s assets exceed £23,250 they are required to fully self-fund their care, which essentially acts as a tax on the elderly, especially those living with dementia. Recent data from the Just Group has revealed that 12 million adults in the UK are delaying planning for their care until they know what the Government clarifies its policies, showing just how confusing current policies are for British families. We cannot continue to shift the financial responsibility of care onto individual citizens, their families, and local councils—the Government must provide substantial support.
Rachel Reeves has shared that dropping the care cap will help the Government tackle the £8.6bn needed yearly to fix the social care crisis, but aren’t we just shifting the cost onto families in need of care? Delaying action will only exacerbate the problem, making it more costly in the long run. The Government has been slow to assist, but the time to act is now.
Why antipsychotics aren’t the answer
With limited funding available for social care in the past, overburdened care homes have also been forced to rely on drugs such as antipsychotics to treat conditions like dementia. However, these quick-fix drugs are not the answer to care. Research shows that antipsychotic drugs given to people living with dementia increase the risk of stroke by 61%, heart attack by 28%, and heart failure by 27%.
On a personal note, my father was diagnosed with dementia in his fifties and was prescribed antipsychotic drugs. These caused a severe side effect that bent his neck at a 90-degree angle, forcing him to permanently look down. Having witnessed first hand the harm these drugs can do, we must invest in safer dementia support through holistic alternatives and technological innovations like interactive lights.
In addition to being dangerous, these drugs are also costly. Antipsychotic drugs cost the NHS £60 million annually. When resources are already stretched thin, funds should be spent on solutions that benefit the quality of life of patients.
With the funds provided in the autumn budget to local government, the government still needs to make a clear commitment toward new solutions and innovations for dementia care, especially given the recent rejection of a promising Alzheimer’s drug for widespread NHS use in England.
Why the Autumn Budget is the perfect time to redirect funds into technology
Up until now, investment in technology in the social care sector has lagged behind that which was provided to the NHS, with outdated systems still prevalent. Many care businesses still rely on paper-based record-keeping systems.
Technology can open up new possibilities, but care homes need support and training initiatives from the Government and partners to use these tools effectively. For example, transitioning to digital systems can improve the flow of information between care professionals and their organisations and reduce the admin to focus on the quality of care and ensure that important, sensitive information remains secure.
In addition, technology can also enhance the care experience for residents directly. Interactive light technology and sensory stimulation activities are excellent examples. Care environments can often feel very clinical, with limited engaging media – perhaps a radio or TV at best. Activities that increase sensory stimulation can drastically improve social, physical, and cognitive well-being, encourage movement, and offer opportunities for social interaction. This could include games from bubble-popping, piano playing, colouring, leaf-sweeping, and other activities that can transform the care experience for both residents and care professionals.
For example, Social-Ability‘s technology, accessible through the Happiness Programme, has resulted in significant improvements: 98% of participating care providers reported enhanced social well-being, with 73% noting reduced stress levels among those they care for. The programme has also contributed to improved health outcomes, increased activity levels, and decreased use of antipsychotic drugs.
This raises the question: why can’t the £60 million currently spent on devastating drugs get reinvested into innovation and technology to ensure carers have the latest tools without harmful effects? Redirecting funds away from drugs should be a major priority for the provision of social care funds.
How funding for social care can help reform the NHS
It’s clear that the government is keen to get the NHS ‘back on its feet’ with new reforms. But you can’t fix the NHS without investing in social care on a national level, alongside the funding injection the Chancellor has provided to local councils.
Currently, one in four hospital beds are occupied by people with dementia, leading to bed blocking and poorer care conditions due to the distress and confusion often experienced by these patients in hospital settings. Particularly as individuals with dementia tend to have longer hospital stays than average patients and face delays in discharge due to community care shortages.
Adequate funding for care homes and staff would enhance the social care sector, facilitating smoother transitions for people with dementia from hospitals to care homes and easing strain on NHS resources in return. Investing in the social care sector is, in essence, investing in the NHS itself.
The Autumn Budget and beyond
The Autumn Budget has provided a small step in the right direction to reversing the social care crisis. However, the industry must continue advocating to ensure people living with dementia get the care they deserve.
The immediate reality is that the sector is on the brink, with care homes urgently needing more funding and staff training. Providing access to and guidance on how modern technology can help is just one lifeline to improve the standard of care our country aspires to achieve.
Images: Heidi Fin and John Ramsay
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