Handling the UK’s Ageing Population Crisis

It’s fair to say we’re in the grips of an ageing population crisis. 177 (out of 195) countries in the world have an ageing population, and this has implications for the economy, public services, society, and of course the individuals and their families.

The UK is no different; in fact, between 1991 and 2016, the number of UK residents aged over 65 grew from 9.1 million to 11.8 million.

According to the ONS, in 50 years’ time, there are likely to be an additional 8.6m people aged 65 and over. To put that into perspective, that’s a population roughly the size of London!

Within the UK, the elderly population isn’t spread equally, with older people making up higher proportions of rural and coastal areas than urban areas.

The over-65 population is projected to grow by around 50% in rural and urban areas between 2016 and 2030.

The financial strain on families

The cost of care homes naturally depends on where in the UK you live and what type of care you need.

The latest research shows the average care home fees range from £27,000 to £39,000 pa for a residential care home. When nursing care is required, this bumps up to an eye-watering £35K-£55K.

To put that into context, the average full-time wage in the UK sits at £37,428.

So what are the options when it comes to elderly care, and what’s right for you and your family?

Elderly care options

Home care (or day care)

Home care (sometimes known as day care), allows people to stay independent in their own homes for longer, receiving regular visits from a home care worker to help with their routine, such as personal care, or things like shopping and meal preparation.

Live-in care

Live-in care also allows people to remain in their homes for longer, but offers more support than home care. With live-in care, you have around-the-clock care, with a qualified professional moving into the person’s home. Depending on the individual’s condition, modifications may need to be made to their home in order for live-in care to be an option (e.g. fitting handrails or ramps).

Care homes

Care homes provide residents with personal care (such as washing, dressing, taking medication or visiting the toilet), and may also provide social activities including day trips, as well as access to communal areas such as gardens. They also provide around-the-clock care, but the level of support is not 1 to 1.

Nursing homes

Nursing homes provide residents with personal care (as above), as well as assistance from qualified nurses. Nursing home costs are usually more expensive than care homes, as the medical needs are usually greater and more complex, requiring additional staff and facilities.

Live In Solutions offers a flexible alternative

Live In Solutions offer a consistent, fully-managed home care service on either an ongoing or short term basis, so whether you require visiting home care or more specialist live-in care, we are ready to assist.

The costs of home care and live-in care can be surprisingly affordable, offering significant savings on average care home costs.

For a free, no-obligation consultation on how we could help you, please give us a call on 01245 890336.