Age UK Sunderland is urging people in Sunderland to support Age UK’s Care in Crisis campaign demanding urgent reform of the care and support system.

The charity has launched a Care in Crisis petition calling on the Government to reform the care system for older and disabled people so that everyone gets the care they need to live with respect and dignity. The petition calls on the Government to take urgent action to ensure that:

• Everyone who needs care receives it and is treated with the respect they deserve
• No-one is forced to sell their home or sacrifice all their savings to pay for the care they need
• People are able to plan and prepare for care in advance

Age UK Sunderland is asking all those who care about social care both now and for the future to help the petition towards its target of 100,000 signatures. Reform of the system is, Age UK believes, the most pressing issue facing older people today.

Successive governments have talked about reforming care but the issue has been repeatedly shelved. With the recent budget cuts and a growing older population the system is confusing, unfair and unsustainable.

Recent cuts to care and support services across the country have created huge pressures in the care system which hurt some of the most vulnerable in our society. The quality of care is often poor, funding is hugely unfair and care packages are frequently inadequate meaning people are left to struggle on without the help and support they need to lead independent lives.

That’s why Age UK has launched its Care in Crisis petition, to give everyone who feels strongly about this issue the chance to have their voices heard. The charity aims to collect 100,000 signatures by 1st March 2012 and will deliver them to the Government ahead of the planned White Paper on the future of long term care.

Alan Patchett, Director of Age UK Sunderland said: “Urgent reform of the social care system is needed now and we cannot hold off any longer.

“Too many people rely on the care system on a daily basis for it to be sidelined as too ‘difficult’ or ‘costly’ to fix. Many of those who need help and support are being badly let down by a system that is at breaking point, while others find themselves forced to sell their homes in order to pay for support they need.

“That’s why we’re supporting the Care in Crisis campaign and need urge everyone in Sunderland to back it too.

“We need to create a big noise to make sure the Government listens to our concerns and takes action now. We want to collect 100,000 signatures but cannot do it without your support. Please help us secure good care for older people now and in the future by signing our Care in Crisis petition.”

To sign up to Age UK’s Care in Crisis petition calling for urgent care reform, please either visit Age UK Crisis in Care, visit Age UK Sunderland offices at The Bradbury Centre, Stockton Road, Sunderland, SR2 7AQ or pop down to Age UK charity shops on Blandford Street or Sea Road, Fulwell.

Ahead of the planned launch of the Government’s White Paper on the future of long term care, Age UK will present the Care in Crisis petition to the Government. A mass lobby of Parliament will also be held on 6 March at Westminster, London to demonstrate public support for care reform. For more information about how to get involved please contact Age UK Sunderland or call 0191 514 1131.