Calls made for more education to better support Cambridgeshire care-seekers
Figures show nearly a third of people feel unprepared to make care decisions
A care home hopes more education will help people in Cambridgeshire find it easier to make decisions around care.
Figures from Greensleeves Care, a not-for-profit care group, based on data from 1,600 adults in England, found nearly a third of people feel unprepared to make care choices for a relative or friend.
The research also found more than a quarter of people are having to make difficult decisions about care for an older relative or friend at the point of crisis.
'It's a journey, not a snap decision'
Jennifer Dade is a registered manager at Rose Cottage Care Home in Broughton:
"I think people feel for some reason they can't approach care homes; I'm not quite sure what holds people back," she said.
"I think it's trying to educate people as best we can and get the message out there.
"It's (care) a journey, it's not just a snap decision and a moment in time; you don't think about a care home until you need it, and by the time you need it it's when it's got to crisis point."
Nearly 30% expect to make care decision in next five years
Greensleeves Care found 49% of people admit to having no or little knowledge of key aspects of care like costs.
While more than a fifth find having to decide on care for an older relative or friend upsetting, 20% largely avoiding thinking about it, according to the data.
When asked about the key factors in feeling prepared to make care decisions, a third of people referred to 'financial readiness' as well as ‘emotional readiness’ and ‘support from other family members’.
And 29% of adults in England expect to make, or help make, a decision about care for an older relative or friend in the next five years.
The figures come as the Get Care Wise campaign is launched, which aims to support individuals and families to think about care early on to feel more confident in making decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
People 'feel rushed' to make care choices
Amanda Crawley also manages at Rose Cottage Care Home:
"I think people feel rushed, especially if they're in hospital and the beds are needed, so the best thing to do is if it's in your mind at any point, have a conversation with someone, speak to people and get a plan in place," she said.
"At least a quarter of my enquiries are people who have no idea of what to do or where to go.
"It's our job to spread the word and not about necessarily the residents coming in, but the families having the information to make informed choices."