Sadly, it brings no surprise that Peter and Evelyn Wiffen are facing massively increased day care costs (Echo, Oct 31). Mr Wiffen’s fury echoes that of thousands of unheard voices across the country for whom the current social system to pay for long care lacks coherence and fairness.

As the population ages, demand for long-term care is growing. By 2050, there will be twice as many people aged over 85 and overall costs will increase fourfold. Even today, spending is too low to provide adequate service levels with budget-stretched councils having to concentrate limited funds on people with very severe needs.

The Department of Health and Department of Communities and Local Government indicates that spending on older people’s care fell in April by more than six per cent in real terms. Without changes, older people including those on very modest incomes, will increasingly have to pay more from their own pockets.

The present system of paying for care is riddled with inconsistencies in the rules determining who pays what. It often results in older people not accessing the full extent of support to meet their needs, often putting themselves at risk and their families and carers under intolerable strain as they are forced to assume an excessive role.

The Report of the Dilnot Commission which proposes to change the way that social care funding is raised and spent, extending entitlement to public funding for social care in a way that is sustainable for taxpayer, was warmly welcomed by Age UK and across the social care sector.

A key recommendation includes a cap of lifetime contributions towards the cost of social care - protecting people from catastrophic care costs by limiting their overall liability.

Equally, the commission has highlighted what is already starkly apparent. The current system of social care is drastically underfunded and greater, and better, targeted resources need to be made available.

In the meantime it may be worth considering other private alternatives, including those offered by Age UK Darlington, which in many cases come in cheaper than the Council’s options

Andrea Hewitt,

Age UK Darlington.