Home Instead reveals the nation’s attitude to care and ageing
Home Instead has published the results of its latest research to reveal people’s real attitudes towards ageing and how they want to live their lives in older age.
Care Provider Home Instead Research Results
Home Instead Ageing Index Report
The insightful results from Home Instead’s research are wide-ranging, and we share a few key statistics here before looking at some specific areas in more detail over the coming weeks.
As leaders in homecare for older adults, Home Instead sensed that attitudes were changing and that we should ask seniors for their own opinions so that we can tailor our services for their needs. We found some significant results which will inform our care into the future.
89% of over 75’s said that they want to stay active as they get older.
66% said they believe that diet and exercise will slow ageing.
The fear of going into a care home (44%) is greater than the fear of the death of a partner (36%), promoting the model of Live In care as opposed to residential care.
91% of over 75’s said they would prefer to be treated with care at home wherever possible.
61% want to stay sexually active as they get older and 42% would consider dating again if they find themselves alone.
Care Planning with Home Instead achieves results
At the Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen Office we support our clients to change their lifestyle as well as providing the traditional, essential care services. Through our Whats on where guide we encourage our clients to attend exercise groups and social groups as well as helping people with their own exercise routines at home and providing nutritious home-cooked meals. One client, J, recently joining Home Instead was experiencing very low moods and lacked energy and motivation in all areas of her daily life. She was spending all of her days on the sofa in her kitchen. She had low muscle strength and required significant direction. Our care plan included increasing J’s social interactions and building relationships, giving lots of encouragement and gradually increasing physical activity.
The survey also revealed that the fear of going into a care home (44%) is greater than the fear of the death of a partner (36%). By helping J to change her lifestyle, she now enjoys gentle walks around the local area as well as going to the theatre and planning a holiday. This is just one example from across Stourbridge, Hagley, Halesowen, Belbroughton and Clent that with quality hourly or Live In homecare we can change lives and support people in their aspirations which are a reflection of this latest survey, giving people an alternative path into their later years and providing the solution to avoid moving into a care home.
Older People worried about Alzheimers and Dementia
We thought it was also important to find out seniors’ greatest worries. Respondents revealed the illnesses they feared most are Alzheimer’s (a form of dementia) (30%) and cancer (29%). Whilst 91% wanted to receive care and treatment at home, most believed that science could be close to finding a cure and at home instead we have experience in providing leading Dementia Care services as well as Cancer Care and Palliative Care.
We are very grateful to all those who responded for giving us such a valuable insight into the changing attitudes towards ageing and we will continue to work to meet the changing demands of our local communities. As our CEO, Martin Jones says “Older People are getting younger”!
