Lowestoft care home boss encourages more open discussion around later in life care
Figures show nearly a third of people feel unprepared to make care decisions
The boss of a care home in Lowestoft is encouraging people to talk to their loved ones about what they want later in life.
It's as figures from Greensleeves Care, a not-for-profit group, show almost a third of people feel unprepared to make, or help make, decisions about care for an older 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.
'They come when they're in a crisis '
Anne Maas is the manager of the Broadlands Residential Home in Lowestoft.
She says families often choose care homes when in crisis and instead should plan early: "We get a lot of people who can't go home, but then they're made to go where the vacancies are, rather than where they'd like to go.
"If it's a bit more planned they can choose what they actually want."
Rather than leaving it until the last minute, Anne's encouraging people to plan ahead, and visit care homes: "Go and visit.
"In care it's all about what you feel when you walk into a home.
"You'll either feel it or you won't but it's about looking around so you have a choice, and you're able to determine which one will match a person's needs best...
"Meet other residents and try and get a feel for it!"
She also suggests a visit can help break any misconceptions a person may have about care homes: "We always want our care home not to be what people are expecting.
"We can never replace their home but we can become second best."
More about the research
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’.
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.