'Time for social care reform is now'

Social care can change the lives of the person who needs it, their families and their carers. It can be the difference between existing and living a life, but the social care system is on the brink of collapse. An estimated 800,000 older people are being left without basic care – leaving them lonely, isolated and at risk. Others face losing their homes and savings because of soaring care bills. Many families providing care are being pushed to breaking point because of a lack of support.

There are a growing number of challenges facing local authorities who provide social care, including the increasing number of people who need care and support, financial pressures on the existing system and a legal framework which is no longer fit for purpose.

These challenges have already caused a crisis in social care and are impacting on the availability and quality of care that people are receiving.

In response the Care and Support Alliance, a coalition of over 60 disability and age charities that includes Age UK, will hold a mass lobby of Parliament on the 6th March to demonstrate that the government needs to take action to end the care crisis. The lobby will be accompanied by the world’s first ever twobby, a virtual twitter and facebook lobby. Lobbyists can pose questions to their MPs, live updates will be posted, together with responses from MPs.

The government is due to publish a white paper on the future of adult social care in the spring. It is vital that the government goes ahead with reforming the social care system, even if it means that tough decisions will need to be made.

Find out more about the Care and Support Alliance mass lobby and twobby

To take part in our twobby please follow the hashtag #twobby