The new research by Age UK shows how elderly people with chronic health and significant care needs aren’t receiving funding for CHC.
The report outlines eligibility for the funding. With recipients mainly falling under three categories: people at or near end of life; frail older people with complex physical or psychological needs; and people aged 18 and above with long-term healthcare needs.
Recipients access CHC from either the Standard Pathway, through assessment. Or the Fast Track Pathway, through a single professional. is intended for those with a rapidly deteriorating condition, usually at or near the end of life.
Age UK state there should be a steadied growth of CHC recipients in tandem with the ageing population. However findings show there is a steep overall decline in the numbers of people being newly assessed as eligible on the Standard pathway, from 4,628 in Quarter 1 2017/18 to 2,624 in Quarter 4 2023/24. This is a decline of almost half (43%). In contrast, over that same period, the number found eligible for Fast Track CHC has increased by almost a third (30%). Findings also identified large geographical variation of CHC funding on a national scale.
The report also contains case studies from families and their experience of securing CHC funding for their loved ones. Such as: “My father was [assessed for CHC], but I had to push for the assessment for over a year, then when it was done I never got the results and he died before anything could be put in place. He had ‘end of life care’ but there were big holes in the system in my opinion. He should have had better/more support (not means tested) towards the end. We were self-funded all the way and I did 80% of the caring duties. (Unpaid - I was not eligible for carers allowance.)” -Anonymous.
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director for Age UK said: “There can be no solution to the crisis in social care in this country without consideration of how we ensure people with serious health problems and resultant social care needs get support in a way that is fair and consistent with how we structure and fund the NHS and social care services – the original purpose of CHC.”
Read the report in full here.
