Survey finds a third of British Asians have concerns
BRITISH Asians are amongst those who are most worried about how they will care for elderly parents in old age, a new Big Care Debate poll has found.
As the Government’s consultation on the future funding for long-term care enters its final week, the survey shows a third of British Asians have concerns compared with a fifth of the wider population.
The survey reveals that England’s Asian population are nearly twice as likely to be comfortable looking after their older parents and close to five times more likely to expect to look after their grandchildren while their children work
The Big Care Debate is giving Britons the opportunity to have their say and shape the future of care and support services.
In 20 years time it is estimated a quarter of the entire adult population in England will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled.
Half of all men and two in three women will end up needing care, and if someone has more than £23,000 in savings, they will need to meet all the costs themselves.
Under the current system, the average cost of care and support is £30,000, but for someone with dementia it could be as high as £200,000. The Government wants to change this.
Minister for Care Services Phil Hope, said: “British Asian families have a strong tradition of caring for their own and keeping older people close to the family. Social care services could do more to support this culture and stop people seeing homes and savings from a lifetime’s hard work be whittled away.
“I believe we can build a better system for the future, a National Care Service that supports all our aspirations. To make this happen I need to know what British Asian people want and to learn about what you do well so the whole country can benefit.”
The Afiya Trust is working to make sure BME people get the chance to have their voices heard in this debate. Chief Executive, Patrick Vernon, said: “Any process that enables British Asians to be supported in caring for their older relatives, such as the Big Care Debate is to be welcomed. Through our work with BME communities and social care practitioners nationally, it is essential to have access to accurate information about relevant services, housing options and how they need to be financed so they don’t fall through the net.”
