How much will local authority pay for care home

A new study by the Chartered Institute of Housing has found that some people are being forced into residential homes because they can't afford their own home or pay for their own care

The research also shows that this is leading to a problem where local authorities are having to spend more on care homes, with people living longer meaning there are more elderly who need care. The increase in costs means that some people are struggling financially and have been forced into residential care homes

This issue is not just confined to England, but is an international one affecting many countries across the world - with Sweden's government estimating it will cost $200 billion per year by 2050 if nothing changes The institute is calling on the government to give local authorities more money to help pay for care homes, arguing that this would be the most efficient way of dealing with the issue

"What we're saying is that enough isn't being done about it at the moment, and there needs to be a greater commitment from central government

As governments look at how they can tackle this problem, they're going to have to think about the money they put into it

They're not just talking about care for older people, they're also looking at social care in terms of mental health and learning disabilities

I think there is a general acceptance that you can't leave this problem with local authorities alone, because it's too big" - Jane Heppell, the institute's deputy chief executive

"What we've started to see is a trend where older people who have assets, or even if they haven't got a lot of assets, are being forced into residential care homes because they can't afford their own home anymore

We're also seeing it with younger people who have disabilities and have been living in supported housing for example, and because of changes to the funding for that, they can't afford it anymore

It's a problem which is going to get worse in the future" - Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Age UK

"We welcome this report and agree with its central conclusion: England needs a long term sustainable solution to meet the care and support needs of our aging population

“The government has already invested nearly £7 billion in the Better Care Fund and we will be spending a further £1.5 billion by 2020 to help meet pressures on adult social care services - local authorities should use this money to provide more integrated health and social care services" - Minister for Local Government; Devolution, Rishi Sun

The Chartered Institute of Housing have found that some people are being forced into residential homes because they can't afford their own home or pay for their care With people living longer, there are more elderly people who need care, and this means that local authorities are having to spend more on care homes. The increase in costs means that some

The study by the Chartered Institute of Housing has found that this issue is not just confined to England, but is an international one affecting many countries across the world - with Sweden's government estimating it will cost $200 billion per year by 2050 if nothing changes. The institute is calling on the government to give local authorities more money to help pay for care homes, arguing that this would be the most efficient way of dealing with the issue.

"What we're saying is that enough isn't being done about it at the moment, and there needs to be a greater commitment from central government. As governments look at how they can tackle this problem, they're going to have to think about the money they put into it. They're not just talking about care for older people, they're also looking at social care in terms of mental health and learning disabilities. 

"What we've started to see is a trend where older people who have assets, or even if they haven't got a great deal of assets, are being forced into residential care homes because they can't afford their own home anymore. We're also seeing it with younger people who have disabilities and have been living in supported housing for example, and because of changes to the funding for that, they can't afford it anymore" - Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Age UK

"We welcome this report and agree with its central conclusion: England needs a long-term sustainable solution to meet the care and support needs of our aging population. The government has already invested nearly £7 billion in the Better Care Fund and we will be spending a further £1.5 billion by 2020 to help meet pressures on adult social care services - local authorities should use this money to provide more integrated health and social care services" - Minister for Local Government; Devolution, Rishi Sun