The Welsh Assembly Government began consultation on ways of paying for social care services. It said that there could be no doubt that reform of the existing system for funding care was needed. Wales already had a higher proportion of older people than the rest of the United Kingdom, and over the next 20 years many more people would live longer and in better health. It had been predicted that a large funding gap would open up between the cost of care services and the money that was available to pay for them. These factors would present real challenges that needed to be addressed if the care system were to be both affordable and sustainable.

Source: Paying for Care in Wales: Creating a fair and sustainable system, Welsh Assembly Government (029 2082 5111)

Links: Consultation document | Speech | Community Care report

Date: 2008-Nov