With Britain's population living longer, one of the biggest challenges for families is how to fund the care needs of their ageing relatives.
Today, there are more than 700,000 people with dementia and increasingly older people are now living in residential care homes. There are also more than a million older people living alone with virtually no contact with family, friends or neighbours.
A new YouGov survey, commissioned by the charity Counsel and Care in association with Lawpack Publishing, has found that the public are willing to pay more for care in old age.
75% of the British public is prepared to pay higher income tax to fund better and fairer care for older people, a survey published today has found.
According to the national care charity Counsel and Care, adding just 1p to income tax would raise an extra £2 billion, which would pay 80% of all care home fees and for domiciliary care.
People in the 55+ age group showed the greatest support for paying more tax (at 82%), and the 45-54 age group - often known as the 'sandwich generation' who care for both children and ageing relatives - were the next highest at 77%.
Two-thirds of the people questioned felt that the cost of care should be funded by the government and only a quarter believed that it should be means-tested. Esther Rantzen, a patron of Counsel and Care, says: "This is a vote winning issue."
The survey also reveals that 42% of people interviewed think that care and support services for older people are worse compared with five years ago and among the 55+ age group, this rises to 54%. This confirms Counsel and Care's recent survey of local authorities which highlighted the widening care gap as councils restrict the number of older people eligible for care services.
Stephen Burke, chief executive of Counsel and Care, said: "This YouGov survey shows that urgent action needs to be taken on the funding of long term care, and that the public is willing to participate. Clearly the public want better care for our ageing population.
"If we can develop a co-payment option that is a true partnership between the state, the family and the individual, we can move towards a fairer system of paying for care in the future. That is the challenge for the government in its spending review this autumn and beyond."
The survey was commissioned by Counsel and Care and Lawpack Publishing to coincide with the start of Britain's first ElderCare Week (3-9 September 2007). The week aims to focus on Counsel and Care's advice service for older people, their families and carers, particularly the issues facing older people needing care.
With the survey revealing that half of 45-54 year-olds do not know where to find advice and information on care for older people - even though this age group is most likely to be helping ageing parents with care - the charity has also published a new book, Caring for Loved Ones in Old Age.
Endorsed by Esther Rantzen CBE, the book answers a wide range of questions faced when ageing relatives need support, and is a guide for navigating the care system. The book offers advice on the rights of people who are becoming carers, detailed guidance on paying for long-term care, and choosing a care home for your loved one when they can no longer cope at home.
Full details of events during ElderCare Week can be found at Counsel and Care's website.
Caring for Loved Ones in Old Age (ISBN 9781905261499) is available from Lawpack.
Further information
Buy Counsel and Care's book 'Caring for Loved Ones in Old Age'
Find out more information on ElderCare Week