The number of over-45s willing to go into a care home has fallen to a record low, according to new research from Just Group.
The Just Group Care Report 2022 revealed that only one in five (20%) of over 45s said they would be happy to go into a residential care home in later life.
It marks the lowest proportion since Just Group started tracking attitudes towards care homes in 2014 and is only matched by 2020 when care homes faced severe pressure as a result of Covid restrictions.
Over-75s also expressed reluctance to go into a care home, with just 29% agreeing that they would be happy to do so if needed, down from 44% who said the same eight years ago. Meanwhile 69% explicitly said they did not want to go into a care home, up from the pre-pandemic average of 63%.
In contrast, Just Group said that 67% of over-45s would be happy to have carers come into their home, rising to 80% among over 75s.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “There are increasingly strong views among older adults about how they do and don’t want later- life care, should they need it. The horror stories about care homes during the pandemic seem to have made a lasting impression and we still see significant numbers who are set against going into a residential care setting.
“The sooner people start planning for later life care the more likely it is that they will be in a position to receive the care they want, in the way they want. While people do need to engage with their care options as soon as possible to achieve the best outcomes, policymakers also have an important role to play.”
Lowe said the delay to the care cap and a string of abandoned reforms governments have left in their wake have helped to create a cohort of “disengaged, confused” people.
He added: “Clear communication from the government about the social care reforms, including a timeline for re-introducing the delayed £86k care cap, are vital to building trust in the system and getting people planning for their later life.”
