Public understanding of adult social care remains limited

Latest polling from the Health Foundation and Ipsos reveals ongoing public pessimism about the state of social care, with over two in five (43%) of the public in England believing the standard of social care has declined in the last year. There is public support for greater government involvement in the funding of social care, however public understanding and awareness of how social care is funded and provided is limited.

The Health Foundation and Ipsos continue a programme of public polling research, publishing the latest findings on public perceptions of social care.

The latest survey (May 2025) highlights ongoing challenges and low public confidence in the current system in England:

  • Public perceptions of social care quality are declining: Over two in five of the public in England believe the standard of social care has worsened over the past 12 months (43%), and believe standards will get worse in the next 12 months (45%). Very few (5%) feel the standard of care has improved.
  • Low confidence in government policies: Half (51%) of the public disagree that the government has the right policies for social care, an increase from 43% in November 2024 (though more positive than in May 2024 – 63%).
  • Public understanding of social care is limited: There are significant gaps in public knowledge, with nearly one-third (31%) mistakenly believing the NHS provides the majority of social care services for older people, with another 19% unsure. A similar proportion (33%) incorrectly think social care is free at the point of need.
  • Public favours a greater role of state in funding: Over half (56%) of the public in England support a system where the state funds some care for everyone in need, with those who can afford it contributing towards their costs. Only 15% favour the option that most closely describes the current system in England where individuals are primarily responsible for funding their own care, with state support for those who cannot afford it.

Read more and download the slide pack from the Health Foundation's website 

Technical note

The survey was conducted between 8 and 14 May 2025 using Ipsos' UK KnowledgePanel, a random probability online panel. We surveyed 2,286 people aged 16 years and older in the UK, including 1,804 respondents in England. A response rate of 55% was achieved. The sample was reviewed on key demographics to ensure a balanced sample was selected. Weighting was applied to the data to ensure the survey results are as representative of the UK population as possible. Calibration weighting was applied to region and an interlocked variable of Gender by Age; and demographic weights were applied to Education, Ethnicity, Index of Multiple Deprivation (quintiles), and number of adults in the household.

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