Poverty will continue to rise and increase demand on Social Care

The predicted rise in the number of adults living in poverty will both directly and indirectly increase the demand for social care services. Experience of poverty is known to lead to interpersonal and family stress with a resulting detrimental impact on physical and mental health. Greater demand for social care services will also ultimately drive an increase in demand for personal assistants.

Poverty is one of the key ideas of demand for adult social care services and levels are now at their highest since the 1960s. Levels of poverty have grown rapidly since the 1980s, and current figures show that there are 2 million more working-age adults living in poverty than there were 10 years ago. It is estimated that by 2020, there will be 2.6 million adults (with children) and another 4.9 million adults (without children) living in relative poverty. Studies have shown that since the economic recession began, demand for social services and in particular support for mental health problems, older citizens and people with learning difficulties has notably increased. Debt, unemployment and low income rates are considered to be some of the key driving factors behind this trend which is predicted to continue. The predicted rise in the number of adults living in poverty will both directly and indirectly increase the demand for social care services. Experience of poverty is known to lead to interpersonal and family stress, with a resulting detrimental impact on physical and mental health and has a detrimental effect on both physical and mental health. Greater demand for social care services will also ultimately drive an increase in demand for personal assistants.

Sources or references

• Aldridge, H., Parekh, A., MacInnes, T., and Kenway, P. (2011). Monitoring poverty and social exclusion 2011.
• Brewer, M., Browne, J., and Joyce, R. (2011). Child and Working-Age Poverty from 2010 to 2020.
• Humphries, R. (2011). Social care funding and the NHS. An impending crisis?
• Jin, W., Joyce, R., Phillips, D., and Sibieta, L. (2011). Poverty and Inequality in the UK: 2011.
• The Young Foundation. (2009). Sinking & Swimming: Understanding Britain’s Unmet Needs.
• Maclnnes and Kenway, 2011.

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.