Funding Shortfall forces Pensioners to pay towards Cost of Care Homes

Date: 22.06.2009

A recent report by Age Concern has highlighted the fact that pensioners are being forced to contribute towards the cost of care homes because of a funding shortfall.

The charity has estimated that the average state funded care home resident has to make a contribution of approximately £3,100 a year to make up for the funding gap.  It’s also been highlighted by the report that there are massive regional differences with those in the Home Counties having to pay as much as £6,200.

Age Concern has worked out that across the country there is a £500 million shortfall in funding for care home places.  The gap is increasing as councils fail to keep up with increasing charges.  The charity is calling for the government to put an additional £1 billion into the system and is obviously concerned about vulnerable old people being expected to fund the shortfall themselves.

Although many elderly people receive help for their nursing home accommodation Age Concern has pointed out that nearly 40% of the 420,000 people in care homes have to support themselves because of the highly controversial means test which determines whether they have assets greater than £22,250.