Busting myths and unveiling attitudes towards retirement and later life in Sutton Coldfield
Home Instead’s latest research, The New Ageing Index, busts some myths and unveils people’s real attitudes towards retirement and later life.
According to The New Ageing Index, did you know that:
- 80% say that if they were to become ill then they would prefer to be treated at home
- 7 in 10 people aged over 75 are worried about not being able to look after themselves
- 89% of the UK’s oldest people now endorse an active lifestyle, with 66% of all respondents endorsing diet and exercise as a means to stay youthful (rising to 76% among those who care for an older loved one)
- People are more concerned about the prospect of ending up in a care home (44%) than they would be about the death of a partner (36%).
- This fear goes up steeply with age:
- 60% for 66-74s and
- 58% for 75+.
- 80% say that if they were to become ill then they would prefer to be treated at home
- Rising to 86% and 91% among the oldest cohorts.
- This fear goes up steeply with age:
Here at Home Instead Sutton Coldfield, we pride ourselves on providing personalised, quality care at home services and believe that achieving positive outcomes should be placed front and centre. That said, we encourage our clients to maintain the lifestyle they desire to enable them to live a happy and fulfilled life in their own home. Our Live-In care services also allow people to remain at home even when their health deteriorates rather than moving into a care home, which we know most people are concerned about.
Case-In Point - John Summers
One of our clients is a true reflection of the research carried out by Home Instead. John Summers is 85 years of age, lives alone in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, with his children located 100 miles from Birmingham. John is living with dementia and his mobility is slowly deteriorating having experienced a couple of falls in recent months. John’s family initially asked Home Instead Sutton Coldfield to support him for one hour a day, 7 days a week, however the package has since grown given the family’s desire to get John back out in the local community, where he created so many fond memories.
We now take John to our memory café in Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, on Tuesdays at the All Saints Church Centre, Belwell Lane, and also to Pacific Nurseries garden centre based on Chester Road, near Sutton Coldfield. The former allows John to be part of a supportive gathering for dementia care where he can enjoy uplifting singing sessions, helpful support and partake in our Love to Move session, which is transforming the lives of people living with dementia through physical activity.
The results have been impeccable. Whilst John still struggles with his dementia and movement can be tricky, we ensure he remains active and is surrounded by people going through the same situation as him to promote physical and mental wellbeing. We also take great pride in preparing a nutritious meal for him, as we know a healthy balanced diet is pivotal as individuals age. Consuming those fundamental nutrients will help and has helped John maintain his independence and has been a positive catalyst for preventing falls.
Our research suggests that maintaining independence, remaining healthy and staying active are key priorities for most individuals and it’s clear to see that our services can positively contribute to all those areas. Whether it’s a visit to one of our memory cafes, taking part in our highly popular Love to Move session or simply being taken care of in your own home by our wonderful Care Professionals, we are here to help you age well with the utmost dignity, respect and independence.
Disclosure: ‘Names changed to protect anonymity’