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Wednesday, 18, Nov 2009 12:00
By politics.co.uk staff
Elderly people with the highest care needs will be provided with social care without charge, the prime minister has said.
In an article for the Daily Mail newspaper, Gordon Brown said 400,000 of the neediest old people would receive help under a National Care Service, the main domestic priority of a fourth-term Labour government.
"It is not right that people already struggling with the loss of independence - who have worked hard all their lives and saved for their retirement - are being forced to run down their savings or sell their homes to fund their care," the prime minister wrote.
Only those who are unable to feed or dress themselves, and who need assistance washing themselves and getting up in the morning, will receive the care without charge. Around 280,000 of these will receive the free care.
An additional 130,000 people who suffer stroke or other illnesses will receive a guaranteed six weeks' worth of assistance to help them recover.
Mr Brown pressed the long-term economic advantages of the move.
"By creating the right support and incentives to keep people in their own homes, we can begin to cut the costs of care for individuals and for the state," he added.
"And most importantly we will begin to fulfil our commitment to ensure that everyone has dignity and security in their old age."