Report reveals need to plan for elderly care
A new report, backed by Esther Rantzen and the Patients Association, has identified the care choice gap that exists between the type of care people want and the care they think they may end up receiving in their old age.
The report, commissioned by Consultus Care and Nursing , was informed by independent research* and found that people say they would choose to live in their own home as they grow older, with 71 per cent identifying this as their ideal option. However, over a third do not envisage they will end up with their ideal choice of care. Worryingly, the report, also revealed how poorly prepared people are when it comes to plans for elderly care. 85 per cent of adults between 51 and 75 have not made any plans for care in their old age.
The research highlighted that people consider staying in their own home and sleeping in their own bed as among the most important factors when choosing their favoured type of care. Over 70 per cent of all adults surveyed said they would like to be living in their own home after the age of 75, although only 54 per cent said they thought this would be possible. Only three percent said they would actually choose to go into residential care. The IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research) report, ‘The Generation Strain Collective Solutions to Care In An Ageing Society’ clearly highlighted that older people want to have a positive and fulfilling relationship with the person who cares for them. They want to know they can call on their carer when they are in need and be confident that the carer knows their circumstances and can give tailored advice. In an ideal world they do not want the inconsistency of potentially unfamiliar carers undertaking regular home visits.
Reluctance to plan
When asked about their plans to receive such personalised care, most people said they had made few, if any, arrangements. They were more likely to have discussed their preferred funeral arrangements (58 per cent) than how they wished to be cared for in old age (48 per cent). Worryingly, 48% had no idea how they were going to fund their care. However, for those who had thought about their finances, just over one-third (34 per cent) said they planned to pay for their elderly care from their pension. Interestingly, there was little awareness of other, potentially more viable financial packages such as mortgages (8 per cent), home income plans (4 per cent) , annuity based schemes (4 per cent) and equity release (12 per cent).
Uncertainties associated with growing old and the unwillingness to contemplate our own frailty, probably goes some way to explain peoples’ reluctance to plan for their future care. All age groups showed some form of denial when it came to planning for old age, and have little understanding of how to finance care in later life. It is important to explore the financial options available early on to facilitate a person’s ideal care choice before a crisis situation develops.
Care choice misconceptions
As well as an unwillingness to discuss wishes and failure to plan to make those wishes a reality, there are many misconceptions and lack of clarity over the choices of care available for the elderly. There needs to be a greater awareness of the choices available. Currently, private providers offer the following care services:
- Domiciliary care – Domiciliary carers visit the older person within their own home and offer a range of services including housework, personal care, shopping and managing bill payments.
- Live-in care – involves one- to- one 24/7 care and companionship such as that provided by Consultus Care and Nursing. A small rota of live-in carers stay in the person’s home and provide continuity of care. The care may be long or short term and can cover both care and social needs.
- Live-in nursing care involves one to one 24/7 professional nursing care and companionship. It provides 24/7 nursing, maintaining the individual’s dignity and promoting their independence. Nurses are regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
- Sheltered or specialist housing – offers a range of different housing options with varying degrees of supervision, support and independence.
- Residential care – is designed for elderly people who are unable to live independently. They typically provide meals, housekeeping and laundry services. Depending on the needs of the individual they will provide assistance with daily activities such as personal hygiene, dressing, eating, and walking.
- Residential nursing care–Designed for older people who require 24/7 nursing care.
The Choice Gap report urges individuals and their families to take responsibility for the planning of their long term elderly care to ensure they have the best chance of getting the care they want. Given that support from the state is already stretched, a little forward planning may help facilitate a person’s ideal choice of care, before a crisis situation develops.
To find out about what state support you are entitled to, visit Paying for Care.
For more information on Consultus Care and Nursing, please visit Consultus Care or to download the Care Choice Map, a helpful decision guide for individuals and families considering care options, click HERE
*The survey of over 2000 adults’ aged 18-75 was conducted online in July 2014
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