More than 50,000 elderly people have died waiting for social care since the Tories vowed to fix their broken system nearly two years ago.

Frail pensioners are stranded at home without help as cash-strapped councils struggle to get carers out to them.

It is now 700 days since the Tories promised a Green Paper to reform social care funding.

Since then 1.3 million pensioners have developed an “unmet need”, such as being unable to wash or dress, said Age UK.

Some 626,701 have had requests for social care refused by their council, and 7,240 have run through life savings to pay for their own care.

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Tragically, 54,025 have died waiting for a care package in that time, the charity found. Age UK chief Caroline Abrahams said: “Their final weeks and months might have been more comfortable, and their families’ lives easier, had they been given more support.”

The Mirror told yesterday how 600 people a week are quitting their jobs to care for loved ones full-time. State funding for social care has fallen 27% since 2010, leaving 400,000 fewer people receiving it. Our Fair Care for All campaign is battling to end the crisis.

(Image: Mirror)

The Green Paper has been delayed repeatedly but is now due this year. Ian Hudspeth of the Local Government Association said every day of delay “is another day people’s lives aren’t being lived to the full”.

The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are committed to ensuring everyone has access to the care and support they need.”