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One-third of adults would not take elderly parent needing full-time care into their home (4 August 2014)

Date: 04/08/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, One-third of adults would not take elderly parent needing full-time care into their home

A new report has revealed that around one-third of those questioned would not allow an elderly relative to live with them and their family if they needed full-time care.

Care home provider Care UK questioned 2,000 people in the UK whose parents were older than 60 about their willingness to care for an elderly parent in their own family.

Researchers found that of those who said they would refuse to accept an elderly parent needing full-time support into their home to live, around half said their home was too small, while four out of 10 said they would be unable to cope with looking after an elderly parent full time.

A fifth of those questioned for the report said they felt they lacked the skills needed to be able to care for an elderly person full time.

Just 28% of those questioned said they would be happy for an elderly parent who needed 24/7 support to come and live with them – and 32% said outright that they would not let an elderly parent move in with them. A total of 36% said they would have to “think seriously” before making a commitment to caring for an elderly person needing 24-hour support in their own home.

Despite the number of adults unwilling or who felt they would be unable to care for an elderly parent full-time in their own family, many felt sad, guilty, concerned or emotional about the thought of having to place an elderly person in a care home.

Leading expert in old age, Dr Ros Altman, said that she was astonished at the findings of the report.

“Of course it is possible they feel their homes are not big enough to house their parents.

“There is so much loneliness among older people in this country – and part of it seems to stem from more families living further apart.

“In other countries, there does seem to be a degree of concern for older family members.”

Chairman of the retirement home developer Hanover Housing Association – Lord Richard Best – recently suggested that retired elderly homeowners should sell their larger homes to move into one- and two-bed retirement homes near town centres, to live within a community of retired people. Lord Best said this would also help free up larger properties for families wishing to get on the housing ladder.

However, elderly people with dementia and physical impairments – including health issues such as memory loss and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease – are likely to need multi-agency support and possibly 24/7 support, which families and communities no longer provide.

Dr Altman said, however, that family help “should surely be give and take – not just one way”.

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of family law solicitors and can advise on a wide range of family matters, including care of elderly family members and Court of Protection family cases.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on wills, trusts and probate – as well as living wills and care proceedings involving elderly and vulnerable adults and children, as well as elder abuse in the family or in care homes.

Duncan Lewis solicitors advise on family law under UK law and Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on family law – including care of elderly family members – contact Duncan Lewis family solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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