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The Archbishop of Canterbury will tomorrow declare the ‘broken’ system of care for the elderly to be one of the biggest challenges facing the UK.
In his New Year message, the Most Rev Justin Welby will challenge the entire country to work together to fix social care.
He will also say that caring for elderly relatives is a ‘privilege’ and will ‘rejoice’ that his own mother, Lady Williams of Elvel, is still alive.
His call comes ahead of next month’s publication of a report he commissioned, entitled Care and Support Reimagined, and amid dismay that a long-awaited limit on the cost of personal care has been delayed until 2025.
The Most Rev Justin Welby will challenge the entire country to work together to fix social care in his New Year’s message
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Lady Williams of Elvel, the archbishop’s, is still alive at the age of 93. The archbishop will also say that caring for elderly relatives is a ‘privilege’
In his message, to be broadcast on BBC1 tomorrow, the Church of England’s most senior cleric will say: ‘We know our care system is broken, but it doesn’t have to be.
‘We can rise to the challenge of fixing it. That means action from all of us; you, me, families, communities, and Government.’ He will add: ‘Caring goes to the heart of what it means to be human. It’s hard but it can also be the most life-giving thing we ever do. It comes back to that essential lesson: we need each other.’
The Archbishop’s message will also refer to the death of the late Queen, and how millions came together to pay their respects.
Dr Anna Dixon, chairman of the Archbishops’ Commission, which has produced the report, said: ‘I am delighted that Archbishop Justin has used his New Year message to emphasise the need for action on social care.
‘Our report will seek to address some of the long-standing challenges… and set out a hopeful vision of what care and support could and should be like.
‘We cannot simply tinker around the edges of the existing social care system. We need a new settlement that… empowers communities, and offers far greater support and recognition to unpaid carers.’
