Articles

One in Five Brits Admit to not Considering Future Care Needs

30/08/2016

One in five Brits have admitted not having made any plans regarding their future end of life care, despite almost three quarters accepting that they would most likely need assistance in the future.

Almost a quarter of Brits were found to think about what life would be like when they are old, with 17 percent thinking about it daily.

The eye opening research also found that the majority of people asked believed that they could rely on their family to look after them. The survey which was conducted by Bupa found that most of those (76%) of the 2000 surveyed believed that old people are undervalued by society.

Professor Graham Stokes, global director of dementia care at Bupa, said: “The perception that older people aren’t valued by society is concerning and needs to be addressed.

“The proportion of people over 80 is expected to increase almost fourfold over the next 50 years, the role they play as well as their needs and desires should be recognised. 

“It’s clear from the research that people have some realistic concerns about their needs and potential health challenges in old age, but old age can be a happy and fulfilling time when people are valued and treated with respect.” 

People have optimism that their lives will not be hindered by old age and as a result perhaps do not plan accordingly.

Professor Graham Stokes added: “As we age our preferences and personalities remain individual, which is why, if care is required, it should be provided in a way that meets the person’s needs and wishes. 

“This could be through enabling someone living in a care home to walk on the beach if they’ve lived near the sea all their life, or helping people to plant a garden if they have a passion for gardening.”

The research found that Brits are unable for whatever reason to discuss conversations about end of life care, with 7 million of over 65’s having never talked with their family about plans.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, an older peoples’ charity, said: “For many families, having these conversations will never be easy. 

“For older people, it can mean facing the prospect of losing independence. For their relatives, it can mean facing the thought of losing a loved one or feeling overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility. 

“But these are issues that only get more pressing with time. It is vital that families start talking about these issues now, so they’re not left making important decisions at times of crisis or suddenly struggling to cope with significant caring responsibilities.”