How can the next government better support older people?

All of the top seven parties have pledged to improve the NHS with the majority focusing on shortening waiting times, increasing the number of doctors and nurses, and modernising it’s technology. 

Improving social services also features in the election manifestos of six of the top parties. 

Both Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party and Keir Starmer’s Labour Party have pledged to implement the planned cap on social care costs from October 2025. This would mean no one would spend over £86,000 on care in their lifetime. 

The conservative government has also stated they will give local authorities a multi-year funding settlement to support social care and implement the reforms set out in the ‘People at the heart of care’ white paper.

The Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Plaid Cymru manifestos all outline plans to deliver more consistent care through a National Care Service. These parties also focus on fairer pay for carers, while the Liberal Democrats also pledge to better support unpaid carers by expanding and increasing Carer’s Allowance, and guaranteeing regular respite breaks.

For older and disabled people in England and Wales, the Liberal Democrats and The Green Party have outlined plans to introduce free personal care – much like the model currently available in Scotland. This would mean those with eligible care needs would receive a weekly payment towards their care costs. 

And Reform UK have outlined plans to simplify social care through a single funding stream, instead of the current split between NHS and Local Authorities.