As we get older our needs change and we may need a little more support than we have done previously. For some, these are reasonably small — a simple cup of tea and chat can make all the difference — but for others, they are more extreme. It is important that the entire spectrum is catered for.

Last month the Government announced that local councils can increase council tax by 2% to raise funds specifically for adult social care, and a welcome top up of £1.5bn to the Better Care Fund (BCF) from 2017-2019. The extra 2% can only be accessed by those with ‘critical’ needs, and the additional BCF funds don’t kick in for another thirteen months — presenting an evident gap in social care provision.