|
|
|
Royal Commission on Long Term Care for the ElderlyFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
|
Why a Royal Commission? The problem of how to provide for the needs of people in their old age is one that needs to be addressed. A consensus is needed from all the people of the UK and all political parties. Also, a number of Government departments are working on the issue of the provision of long term care. Putting these together, a mechanism is therefore needed to enable the issues to be considered in a detailed and pragmatic way without approaching the issue from a particular standpoint. A Royal Commission is just such a mechanism. Will the Commission really be independent? The Commission is free to call for evidence, reach conclusions and make whatever recommendations it sees fit and that it will do. When will the Commission report? The Commission has been asked to report within 12 months. Will the proceedings and hearings be public? The internal meetings of the Commission will be private, but there will be public hearings as part of the process of taking evidence. Will the hearings be based in London only? No, a number of hearings will be held outside London. Will the Commission stop people having to sell their houses to pay for residential care? The Commission will not be pre-judging what they will conclude. Obviously, this is an important issue and is likely to be an area which the Commission will consider, in its context and amongst many other options. Will the Commission be considering long term care of other groups in the population? The main focus of the Commission is clearly the funding and arrangements for the care of the elderly. The Commission have, however, included the long term care of younger disabled people in their Terms of Reference as the needs for the long term care of this group of people may be met via the same mechanisms as those for the elderly. |
|