We Can’t Afford to Grow Old
By Ruben Alarcon
“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Ex. 20:12)
As I reflect on the state of elderly care in Britain today from personal experience, I am struck by the profound injustice woven into the social care system. The costs older people are expected to pay for care in their later years are not merely high—they border on extortion. It appears the system prioritises the interests of elderly care agencies and companies over the very individuals who have spent their lives contributing to society through work, raising families, and building communities.
This imbalance forces us to confront a troubling question: what message are we sending to younger generations? Are we to focus solely on earning and saving for an uncertain future, or should we prioritise raising families and caring for one another in the present? It feels as though society demands we choose between these paths. One path is driven by fear, the other by love. Meanwhile, care agencies reap significant profits, often paying carers only a fraction of what they charge, exacerbating the sense of injustice.
Does it have to be this way? Surely, a better balance is possible—one where individuals, families, and communities share the responsibility of care. Policymakers, educators, businesses, and communities must come together to prioritise the dignity of older people while fostering intergenerational care and support.
Consider, for instance, the original proposal to cap individual care costs at £86,000. With that proposal shelved in the 2024 Budget, contributions remain uncapped, leaving many elderly individuals and their families vulnerable to financial strain. [1] While this policy change may seem like a budgetary adjustment, the issue runs far deeper than economics—it reveals a societal failure to protect the vulnerable from exploitation.
This culture of exploitation extends beyond elderly care. Within the UK, exploitative practices targeting migrant workers mirror the same moral crisis. Many employers recruit migrants for minimum-wage jobs, filling staffing shortages but perpetuating struggles for these workers. [2] This approach exacerbates housing shortages and undervalues the critical, delicate work of caring for the elderly. Agencies often prioritise cost-cutting over care quality, while migrant workers shoulder the burden. Wouldn’t it be more effective to invest in training local workers and offering competitive salaries to ensure a sustainable, high-quality care system?
Even better, we can approach this issue through a relational lens. Family members should be empowered and encouraged to take responsibility for caring for their elderly relatives, with government support for family co-location. Biblical principles, such as the 5th Commandment, Mark 7:9-13, and 1 Timothy 5:3-8, emphasise the importance of honouring parents and grandparents by caring for them directly. Germany offers a practical example, having introduced legal obligations for children to care for their parents. This policy promotes co-location and familial care, reducing governmental costs while strengthening family bonds. [3]
We must ensure care providers are held to higher standards of fairness and dignity. But the solution goes beyond regulation. At its core, this issue reflects a deeper societal crisis: a collective obsession with profit that blinds us to the humanity of others, the divine. Exploiting the vulnerable has become a strategy praised for its efficiency and profit, but in doing so, we ignore their inherent worth as individuals created in God’s image.
Immigrants, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups deserve protection, not neglect. Addressing these injustices will require intentionality, wisdom, and a shared commitment to prioritising human dignity. We must build a society that values love over fear and relationships over profit. Only then can we hope to honour our families, care for our neighbours, and leave a legacy of compassion for future generations.
The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Jubilee Centre or its trustees.
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hundreds-of-rogue-employers-targeted-in-illegal-working-crackdown
