AROUND two million older people in England are living without the social care help they need, according to “deeply worrying” estimates from Age UK.

Many are likely to be struggling with things including getting out of bed and washing, the charity said, warning that not getting help with these basic tasks increases the risk of falls and serious injury.

The group’s analysis of data from the latest English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Office for National Statistics (ONS) population figures led it to estimate that two million people aged 65 and over are living with unmet needs for care and support.

This is up from its previous estimate of 1.6 million last year.

The figure includes hundreds of thousands of people who cannot complete basic self-care tasks and are getting either no help or help that does not meet their needs, Age UK said.

The charity’s analysis also suggested that of the approximately 11 million people aged 65 and over in England, around 10 per cent have difficulty dressing and 6 per cent have difficulty getting in and out of bed.

While the number of people aged over 75 has grown by almost a fifth since 2017, fewer older people have been receiving long-term care through their local authority over this period, it said.

A major review of the health service published this month described the state of social care as “dire” and noted the “profound human cost and economic consequences” of a long under-resourced area of healthcare.

Age UK has urged the government to “grasp the nettle of social care reform firmly and quickly.” It said the findings in its latest report were “frightening, in that they show how badly our health and care system is currently failing some older people, the oldest old especially, despite the professionalism and commitment of many kind and dedicated staff.”

Director Caroline Abrahams said the rise is “deeply worrying,” adding: “The government has not yet said what it intends to do in terms of reforming and refinancing social care, though it has made it clear that it sees social care playing a crucial role in the more joined-up, community-based health and care approach it wants to see supporting older people to stay fit and well at home.”

The government was contacted for comment.

The report follows increasing concerns that older people will face increasing hardships over the winter following the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment to all but the poorest.

Pensioners Peter and Florence Fanning of North Lanarkshire are seeking to take the Scottish and Westminster governments to court over the policy, arguing that both governments failed to adequately consult those of pension age on the change and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes.

Mr Fanning, 73, said: “We intend to sue both the London and Scottish governments, since both are guilty through action and inaction, of damaging the welfare of pensioners.

“We are hoping to be successful, given the manifest injustice involved, however, my work as a trade unionist and shop steward has taught me that some battles are worth fighting regardless of the outcome — I believe this is one such battle.”