Families across Britain are continuing to delay care decisions until a health crisis forces urgent action, according to new research examining the changing demand for care homes.

A report published by Ageing Britain shows that more than half of care enquiries are made within a month of care being needed, suggesting many families only seek support once a situation has become urgent. The pattern reflects what care providers are seeing daily.

Tinga Umera, Managing Director of Nexus Care Services said: “Most families don’t plan early. They come to care when something has already gone wrong.”

He said decisions are frequently made under pressure, with little opportunity for reflection.

“Choices are often made during shock and exhaustion,” he said, “rather than with time to think about what would actually suit the person needing care.”

According to Umera, there are three main reasons families delay planning. The first is emotional resistance.

“Care conversations are confronting,” he said. “Many families see planning as giving up independence.”

As a result, action is often delayed until a sudden incident forces it.

“They wait for a fall, a hospital admission or a rapid decline,” he said. “Not because they don’t care, but because vulnerability is frightening.”

The second reason is the strain of modern family life. Many relatives providing unpaid care are also juggling work and other responsibilities.

Umera said “We see how stretched people are. “There’s very little space to think ahead.”

The third barrier, he explained, is the complexity of the care system itself.

“Funding is uncertain,” he said. “Advice for self-funders is hard to access, and pathways aren’t clear.”

Families who fall just outside local authority thresholds are particularly affected.

“They often feel completely on their own,” he said. “Many don’t know where to start until a crisis hits.”

The consequences of late decision-making can be significant. They include unsuitable care arrangements, distress for older people, increased hospital readmissions and burnout among families. The report found that one in five people seek to change care homes after placement, highlighting how often decisions are made under pressure.

Earlier conversations about care at home could help reduce strain across the system, Umera said.

“Planned support changes the dynamic,” he explained. “Families can make decisions together, before emotions run high.”

He said care can be introduced gradually, with less disruption.

“It can be built around familiar routines,” he said. “That helps people retain independence.”

Earlier planning can also support hospitals.

“When care is already in place, discharges are smoother,” Umera said. “It can prevent unnecessary moves into residential care.”

Demand for care homes is rising fastest in regions such as the West Midlands, where enquiries have increased by seven per cent. In these high-pressure areas, home care plays a key role in protecting capacity.

“Many people entering care homes aren’t unsafe at home,” Umera said. “They just don’t have the support they need.”

With the right care plan, he said, many can remain at home for longer.

“That helps keep care-home places available for those who really need round-the-clock supervision.”

Assumptions about what requires residential care are also changing. Nexus Care Services now supports people at home with needs once thought to require a care-home setting, including dementia, post-hospital recovery, complex medication support, mobility assistance and end-of-life care.

“Dementia drives many residential enquiries,” Umera said. “But support introduced early can make a big difference.”

He added that timing is critical.

“When families reach breaking point, options are more limited,” he said.

Nexus Care Services is a multi-award-winning, family-run private home care provider operating across Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Tamworth. The team regularly publishes guidance to help individuals and families understand their care options and plan with confidence.

For more information, visit www.nexuscareservices.co.uk or call 0121 308 2906.

Families across Britain are continuing to delay care decisions until a health crisis forces urgent action, according to new research examining the changing demand for care homes.

A report published by Ageing Britain shows that more than half of care enquiries are made within a month of care being needed, suggesting many families only seek support once a situation has become urgent. The pattern reflects what care providers are seeing daily.

Tinga Umera, Managing Director of Nexus Care Services said: “Most families don’t plan early. They come to care when something has already gone wrong.”

He said decisions are frequently made under pressure, with little opportunity for reflection.

“Choices are often made during shock and exhaustion,” he said, “rather than with time to think about what would actually suit the person needing care.”

According to Umera, there are three main reasons families delay planning. The first is emotional resistance.

“Care conversations are confronting,” he said. “Many families see planning as giving up independence.”

As a result, action is often delayed until a sudden incident forces it.

“They wait for a fall, a hospital admission or a rapid decline,” he said. “Not because they don’t care, but because vulnerability is frightening.”

The second reason is the strain of modern family life. Many relatives providing unpaid care are also juggling work and other responsibilities.

Umera said “We see how stretched people are. “There’s very little space to think ahead.”

The third barrier, he explained, is the complexity of the care system itself.

“Funding is uncertain,” he said. “Advice for self-funders is hard to access, and pathways aren’t clear.”

Families who fall just outside local authority thresholds are particularly affected.

“They often feel completely on their own,” he said. “Many don’t know where to start until a crisis hits.”

The consequences of late decision-making can be significant. They include unsuitable care arrangements, distress for older people, increased hospital readmissions and burnout among families. The report found that one in five people seek to change care homes after placement, highlighting how often decisions are made under pressure.

Earlier conversations about care at home could help reduce strain across the system, Umera said.

“Planned support changes the dynamic,” he explained. “Families can make decisions together, before emotions run high.”

He said care can be introduced gradually, with less disruption.

“It can be built around familiar routines,” he said. “That helps people retain independence.”

Earlier planning can also support hospitals.

“When care is already in place, discharges are smoother,” Umera said. “It can prevent unnecessary moves into residential care.”

Demand for care homes is rising fastest in regions such as the West Midlands, where enquiries have increased by seven per cent. In these high-pressure areas, home care plays a key role in protecting capacity.

“Many people entering care homes aren’t unsafe at home,” Umera said. “They just don’t have the support they need.”

With the right care plan, he said, many can remain at home for longer.

“That helps keep care-home places available for those who really need round-the-clock supervision.”

Assumptions about what requires residential care are also changing. Nexus Care Services now supports people at home with needs once thought to require a care-home setting, including dementia, post-hospital recovery, complex medication support, mobility assistance and end-of-life care.

“Dementia drives many residential enquiries,” Umera said. “But support introduced early can make a big difference.”

He added that timing is critical.

“When families reach breaking point, options are more limited,” he said.

Nexus Care Services is a multi-award-winning, family-run private home care provider operating across Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield and Tamworth. The team regularly publishes guidance to help individuals and families understand their care options and plan with confidence.

For more information, visit www.nexuscareservices.co.uk or call 0121 308 2906.