WE are an ageing population. And, as the nation's older generation continues to live longer, the cost of care is escalating. Age UK has calculated how much it would cost to help the 1,004,000 older people who are struggling with some level of unmet care need for social care support.

According to the charity's analysis, the cost of meeting these needs is £4.2 billion per annum. By contrast, emergency admissions for those aged over 60 cost more than £3.4 billion a year, but some of that cost could be avoided by better and more timely support.

This latest analysis also reveals that Government investment of an additional sum equivalent to less than four per cent of the annual NHS budget of £112 billion per annum, would address the needs of those struggling to cope on their own - and help sustain the NHS at the same time.

As part of the Government’s forthcoming Spending Review, Age UK is calling for further funds to be invested in the care system in order to provide support to those older people who currently receive no help at all.

This latest analysis adds to the already strong economic case for better investment in social care, because of the disastrous impact that the decline of social care has had on the NHS.

Age UK recently found that 2.5 million NHS bed days were lost over five years as older people waited too long for essential social care, leaving them stuck in hospital as well as causing distress to those affected: this alone wasted £669m of NHS funding over the period.

On top of this, the average unplanned admission to hospital costs the NHS £1,542 per admission. In 2012/13 there were 2,211,228 emergency admissions among people aged 60-plus at a total cost of more than £3.4 billion. According to Age UK and champions of older people's rights, some of these admissions were undoubtedly avoidable – because for some people, a suitable and timely care package would have meant they could manage their health at home.

Jean Walker, who is the founder of Bradford and District Senior Power, believes that there should be more forward planning to prepare for the country's increasingly ageing population and its needs and demands on society. "They have to look at planning. If you are a good housekeeper you plan, if you are a good mother you plan for your children and their education and the same thing applies to ageing," says Jean. "We are not going to get away from this. A plan should be put in place."

Jenny Crowther, who works with older people at a drop-in centre near Keighley, adds: "People are living longer than ever before, and the Government has to wake up to that and put in place an infrastructure that will provide for their needs.

"With more adequate home care, and the right funding in place for this, people can stay at home for longer - which most older people want to do - and this would in turn ease the burden on hospitals and the NHS. Social care is a necessity, investment is vital, for all our futures."

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: “The NHS is one of the nation’s ‘crown jewels’ and quite rightly is always a top priority for public funds. But it is struggling to cope at present and this is partly because in recent years social care has been allowed to wither away. One consequence is the million plus over-65s today with an unmet care need trying to manage at home on their own. The NHS is already under incredible pressure and this is in early Autumn, months before the traditional peak for hospital activity

“If we invested one extra pound in social care for every 27 the NHS spends each year we could give the million older people with an unmet care need the help they require. Not only would this make a huge difference to these older people, it would also relieve the growing pressure on the NHS.

“The truth is that successive administrations have neglected social care and this has been a huge policy mistake that has wasted tax payers’ money and diminished many older people’s lives. Now, through the Spending Review, this Government has the chance to begin to put things right by investing in social care, strengthening the NHS into the bargain.”

* To find out more about Age UK’s Care campaign and to sign its petition go to ageuk.org.uk/dontcutcare