“UK Faces 350,000 Care Home Bed Shortfall: Live-In Care Could Fill the Gap” Says Leading Healthcare Expert
The UK is heading for a care crisis, with demand for care home beds projected to almost double by 2050, leaving a potential shortfall of more than 350,000 places for older people.
New research from Noble Live-In Care, part of the CCH Group, shows that while the country had around 480,000 care home beds in 2023, the ageing population will push demand far beyond current capacity, to around 750,000 places by 2050.
Despite the looming need, capacity is barely growing. In 2023/24, care home places increased by just 1,000 nationwide. Per capita, there are now fewer beds available for every 100 people aged over 75 than a decade ago.
Live-In Care: A Scalable Alternative
While building more care homes is one solution, experts warn it will not be enough and that scaling up live-in care could deliver faster, more person-centred support.
Live-in care provides 24-hour support in the comfort of an older person’s own home, delaying or avoiding the need for residential care. It also helps the NHS by enabling faster hospital discharges and reducing bed-blocking.
Currently, around 820,000 people in the UK receive some form of home-based care, but only about 10,000 use live-in care. With investment in training, recruitment and public awareness, Noble Live-in Care says this number could rise significantly, easing pressure on care homes and giving families greater choice.
"Live-in care allows us to provide personalised, round-the-clock support in people’s own homes, keeping them safe, comfortable, and independent for longer. It also takes pressure off the NHS by enabling faster hospital discharges and reducing bed-blocking.”
The Demand Drivers
- By 2050, one in four Britons will be aged 65 or over.
- The 85+ population will more than triple, from 1.6 million in 2016 to nearly 5 million by 2050.
- Rural and coastal regions, including the South West, South East and parts of Wales, will see the sharpest rise in elderly residents, and the greatest pressure on care services.
Changing Preferences
According to Noble Live-in Care, most older adults want to stay at home for as long as possible. Surveys show that 97% of people would prefer to receive care at home, yet more than 400,000 currently live in residential care settings.
“Many families only start looking at options during a crisis,” added Prendiville Lawes, “and many never hear about the full range of care available. Some people may thrive in care homes, but for those who would prefer to stay at home, live-in care offers a real answer to the shortage of care home beds. It is a proven way to provide safe, personalised, round-the-clock support without adding pressure to an already stretched residential sector.”
Call to Action
Noble Live-In Care is urging:
- Government and local authorities to invest in live-in care workforce growth.
- Healthcare professionals to raise awareness of live-in care at hospital discharge and during care planning.
- Families to explore live-in care before a crisis forces a move.
For the full research on why the UK is running out of care home beds, visit: https://nobleliveincare.com/running-out-of-beds-why-live-in-care-is-the-future/
Source & Image Credit: CCH
