Opinion

Proposal on means testing social care will cause alarm

It is important that we have an informed and serious debate about how we care for an ageing population with multiple healthcare needs and limited resources.

This is an issue that was the focus of consideration by the last Stormont administration, to the extent that then health minister Michelle O'Neill commissioned a report by social care experts in December last year.

The Department of Health this week published the report, `Reboot Adult Care and Support in Northern Ireland', which contains a number of challenging ideas, some that are positive and workable and others that will be regarded as completely unpalatable.

On the positive side, the report recommends giving care workers a living wage, pointing out they are under-valued, highly skilled staff who receive among the lowest salaries in the labour market.

This recommendation will receive widespread support from those who depend on the kindness and compassion of care assistants, who have to travel from home to home, performing their duties within difficult time constraints.

It is right that those doing such essential work are given the opportunity to develop their careers, enhance their skills and be properly rewarded for the job they do.

The report also highlights the contribution of family members in providing care for elderly or infirm relatives. Without them our care system simply could not cope and this army of often unseen and unsung carers need to receive the recognition they deserve.

However, by far the most controversial aspect of this report is the proposal to charge people `who can afford to pay' some of the cost of their care.

Means testing of home care packages in Northern Ireland would be a radical step and it is not clear if it would have political support.

Certainly, there would be much to consider including the level of any capital limit and whether an asset such as the family home should be included in any calculations.

Leading charities have already voiced concerns and that disquiet will be shared by many elderly people worried about what the future holds.