[DemolitionRed]

Many elderly physically and mentally disadvantaged people have no relatives. For those that do, should we insist they care for those elderly relative? What if they never got along? what if they live long distances away? What if they don't have a caring nature?. What if that family member has a record of financial abuse? What if the user has complex needs and the relative has no formal training?

Nearly everyone who uses social care has to financially contribute. If a person (and they don't have to be elderly) come out of hospital, can't manage and have nobody, the government has to provide a free service for a limited time. During that time (normally 2 weeks) an enabling team encourages that person towards independence. If that person isn't enabled within that designated time and its proven that they can't manage on their own and can't afford private care, a financial assessments is carried out and funds for private care are applied for and paid for by the local council. The local council will have to pay for their care through the private sector, a sector which is much more expensive than the old style of social care. Private care has the monopoly in all of this.

Fortunately, under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, the government have a legal obligation of care. If they didn't then we'd be like America, with the poor elderly abandoned and forgotten.