WHEN CARE IS KEY
Our elderly population in the UK is growing and there is an ever-increasing need to provide for them, writes Libby Faulkner
The care home sector is worth around £15.9 billion a year in the UK. The baby boom of the 1940s and 50s means there are now more elderly people than ever before with 18 per cent of the population aged 65 and over and 2.4 per cent aged 85 and over.
Care for the elderly does not just stop at residence, but also includes mobility, and transport and a host of other things too.
Designated purpose-built villages for the elderly are becoming more popular with facilities that make it feel like you’re living in your own home and maintaining independence, while there is specialist help available 24-hours a day as well as activities and entertainment. Another option is enlisting carers who care for the elderly in the comfort of their own homes.
Lancashire has a vast amount of care options for the elderly ranging from all the above to live-in care workers, nursing homes and respite support for families who are looking after elderly relatives.
In comparison with the England and Wales average, Lancashire has a higher proportion of people in the two oldest broad age groups of 45 to 64 year-olds and 65 plus making it an ideal location for retirement and one of the best locations for excellent care into old age!
For the livelier members of the elderly population, who still enjoy their health and their holidays, there are now holidays specifically geared towards the older generation. With holidays designed for the elderly, travel companies now provide bus tours and cruises for those unable to fly or travel too far away from home.
Whatever your age, treating the elderly with compassion and dignity is key especially now that so many of us are living longer, healthier lives.
Whether it’s you or a family member that needs a little help or advice making those all-important decisions, there is a vast range of care and residency options throughout the Ribble Valley, along with support groups, mobility shops and at-home care.
