Adult social care in England: overview: report by the Comptroller and Auditor General

Adults with long-term and multiple health conditions and disabilities are living longer. The age group most likely to need care – those aged 85 and older - is rising faster than the population as a whole. This report, the first in a series on adult care, describes a care system in which rising needs, reducing local authority spending, and reductions in benefits may be putting unsustainable pressure on informal carers and acute health services. It notes that local authorities’ total spending on adult social care fell 8 per cent in real terms between 2010-11 and 2012-13, and is projected to continue falling. The report highlights the main risks and challenges as the system is changed radically, some of which will be covered in more detail in future years. Among its key findings are: rising care needs and falling state spending; and that increasing pressures on other parts of the care and health systems; improvements are needed to the care system.