Tynwald to debate how to fund future long-term care

Nursing, Residential and Home Care Report to go to politicians

The complex issue of how to fund long-term care will come under the political spotlight at the May sitting of Tynwald.

Members will debate the costs involved as laid out in the Nursing, Residential and Home Care Report.

The document builds on work presented to Tynwald in July 2023 when members requested analysis of two specific models adopted in Jersey and Scotland.

You can find out more HERE.

The report says both reform models would resolve issues with the current system that Tynwald seeks to address.

These include perceived issues of inequity including:

• a cliff edge where a small minority receive full state support while others receive none
• uncapped costs for individuals who pay for their own care
• a ‘perverse incentive’ where people only receive state support if they leave home to move into care which contradicts government's 'Home First' strategy.

However neither model under scrutiny would improve long-term financial sustainability for government.

A ‘Do Nothing Plus’ option has also been explored as a contingency option.

This would deliver modest, near-term improvements for a small minority of those most impacted by the current system.

This would be done through regulatory changes without the need to immediately commit to a full new model.

Minister Claire Christian said: “The purpose of the general debate is to share findings and invite members’ views to inform next steps with this complex but equally important strategic programme of work including perhaps further public engagement to inform the next administration as it takes this work forward.”