ADASS responds to ‘Missing Millions: Exploring hidden and unmet social care need for disabled people’
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Healthwatch England have published a new report, focusing on hidden demand for social care.
Based on national polling, their research represents the first estimate of unmet need for care in England among working-age disabled adults. It complements Age UK’s estimate for older people, while filling a key evidence gap highlighted in the last government’s 2021 social care white paper.
In response, ADASS CEO, Anna Hemmings said:
“It’s positive to hear social care is working well for those people drawing on it, but too many disabled people with low level needs are missing out on care and support altogether. They are being left to ‘get by’, which can risk storing up bigger problems in the future.
“To break this cycle, we need to invest more low level, early support at home and in the community to prevent people reaching crisis point. We agree that key to this is better information and advice about care and support services available to people, which our own Directors say they are struggling to afford to prioritise. We also need a long-term fully funded plan to reform social care and enable people, whatever disability or illness they are facing, to live well, work and care.”