Richard Hawkes, chair of the Care and Support Alliance, said:

“Every day, our 75 organisations hear horror stories of older and disabled people who struggle to get the support they need to simply get up, get dressed and get out of the house.

“This is also putting unbearable pressure on family carers.

“The new Care Act, and the Better Care Fund, are bold and ambitious bids to address the crisis, and move us closer to a preventive, more integrated, system that keeps people out of crisis and living independently.

“But as today’s figures show chronic underfunding has led to a dramatic rationing of care. We need a long term funding commitment for social care by the Government.”