Care demand rising as families delay decisions until crisis point, warns home care leader
Families across Britain are still leaving care decisions until a health crisis forces their hand, according to Tinga Umera (pictured), managing director of Nexus Care Services.
Tinga's comments follow the release of new research by Ageing Britain on the changing demand for care homes.
The report shows that more than half of care enquiries are made within a month of care being needed.
Tinga said the findings reflect what his teams see every day.
He said: “Most families do not come to care planning calmly or early. They come to it when something has already gone wrong.
“Decisions are often made during shock, exhaustion and fear, rather than with time to think about what would actually suit the person needing care.”
Tinga said that in his experience leading a home care organisation, families delay planning for three main reasons.
He continued: “Care conversations are emotionally confronting.
“Many families see planning as giving up independence, rather than protecting it.
“They wait until a fall, a hospital admission or a sudden decline forces action, not because they don’t care, but because acknowledging vulnerability is frightening.
“Modern family life also leaves very little space to plan ahead. Many unpaid carers are working at the same time, and we see every day how exhausted and stretched people are.”
The third reason Tinga points to is that the care system itself often makes things harder.
Tinga said: “Funding is uncertain, advice for self-funders is difficult to access and pathways are inconsistent.
“When families fall just outside local authority thresholds, they often feel completely on their own and don’t know where to start until a crisis hits.”
The consequences of late decisions can include an increased risk of unsuitable care arrangements, distress for older people, increased hospital readmissions and burnout among relatives and carers.
The report’s finding that one in five people seek to change care homes after placement reflects how often decisions are made under pressure.
Earlier conversations about care at home could ease strain across the system.
Tinga explained: "Planned support allows families to make decisions together before emotions run high. The plans can be introduced gradually and built around familiar routines to minimise disruption and retain independence.
“Hospitals also benefit from smoother discharges when care is already in place. It can prevent unnecessary moves into residential care, particularly where a short-term deterioration is mistaken for permanent decline."
Demand for care homes is rising fastest in regions such as the West Midlands, where the report shows a seven per cent increase in enquiries.
Tinga said home care has an important role in protecting capacity in these high-pressure areas.
“Many people entering care homes are not unsafe at home, they just don’t have the support they need,” he said.
“With the right care plan and continuity, people can often remain at home safely for much longer. That helps ensure care-home places are available for those who genuinely need round-the-clock supervision.”
Assumptions about what requires residential care are also changing. Nexus Care Services now supports people at home with needs that families once believed could only be managed in a care home.
These include dementia, post-hospital recovery, complex medication support, mobility assistance and end-of-life care.
“Dementia accounts for a large proportion of residential care enquiries,” Tinga said.
“Our experience shows that many people living with dementia can stay at home longer when support is put in place before the family reaches their breaking point,” said Tinga.
Nexus Care Services is a multi-award-winning, family-run, private home care provider based in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Tamworth.
The Nexus team regularly publishes guidance for individuals and families seeking care, helping them understand their options and put together care plans with confidence.
