The Austerity Uncovered report also revealed that there has been a 27% fall in the number of older people receiving publicly funded social care since 2008-09, spending on care services carried out in home or day care centres has fallen by around a fifth, and services such as meals on wheels has fallen by more than half.
Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary, said: “Adult social care is in crisis and children’s services are under increasing attack. With cuts on this scale it will be impossible to protect local services. The tragedy is that the cuts have been disproportionate - those local authorities with the greatest need have been the worst hit.”
Spending is falling within the sector, with a funding gap of £1.9 billion expected by 2015/16. Increasing demand through an ageing population and people with multiple disabilities living longer, together with falling budgets is leading to a crisis of care.
The total budget put aside for means-tested social care by English councils in 2014/15 stands at £13.68 billion, a real terms cut of 12% since 2010, while demand has risen 14% in the same period, according to research by Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).
Independent Age, a charity helping older people across the UK & Ireland, reacted to the report by asserting the need for an honest debate about the true costs of social care.
Neel Radia, chairman of the National Association of Care Catering, said: “The figures in this report go to prove and reiterate what the NACC stated in November 2014 that it is imperative to address social care cuts and the impact they are having on vital front line services for older and disabled people living with in the communities.
“Services like meals on wheels have been scrapped by a third of top tier councils in the UK with no additional support to ensure they are staying nourished and hydrated whilst living independently at home. Only 10 years ago 40 million meals were being served in the UK per year compared to 19 million meals per year now.”
The report revealed that councils are increasingly turning to charging for care and that there is more likely to be a ‘menu of services’ in the future (for instance for meals, transport, attendance at day centres), meaning that those with the means will be able to afford more of the services, with very basic provision for others. Age UK report that, on average, service users were paying £588 more in real terms in 2012/13 than they were in 2009/10.
Janet Morrison, chief executive at Independent Age, said: “These figures confirm that older people in particular are being affected by the cuts to council funding. We already know that over two million older people living at home in England experience difficulties with key aspects of living independently, such as bathing, dressing and cooking.
“Our society is ageing and a greater demand is being placed on care services that councils provide such as meals on wheels and care at home. Without an honest debate about the true costs of social care, we are worried that the cuts will continue to have a negative impact on the lives of the most vulnerable in society."
The Austerity Uncovered report is based on research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES), commissioned by the TUC. The report focuses on the impacts of austerity and how changes in publically funded services affect both people and places across the country now and in the years to come.