Adult social care provides essential services such as residential care homes, community care, and protection for the most vulnerable adults in society: the elderly, disabled people and their carers. In this discussion paper, The Law Commission proposes the most radical shake-up of adult social care law for more than 60 years. Overhauling the outdated laws that govern the care provided to elderly and disabled people will save unnecessary red tape, delays and litigation, and public money. A wide-ranging package of reform proposals includes clearer rights for the estimated six million carers who give up their time to look after elderly and disabled friends and relatives. The rules governing this area are currently spread across 38 separate Acts of Parliament and most services are still delivered under an Act of 1948. There is also a mass of policy guidance. This can cause confusion, delay and inconsistency. As a result, the existing system is time consuming and expensive to operate, leading to unnecessary delays and litigation. The Commission suggests a single, clear and modern statute to replace the current legal framework. Provisional proposals include: establishing a core set of overarching principles to guide social care decisions; introducing a single and explicit duty to assess individuals" needs; a duty on local authorities to provide community services for all those eligible; the introduction of a single duty to assess the needs of any carer; and, a statutory duty on local authorities to investigate when they suspect that vulnerable adults are being abused or neglected.