Money
Retirement
Homing in on care needs
Britons are convinced they will be able to stay in their own homes all their lives and never have to move into care, says a new study
However, every year older people are forced to move out of the family home when it becomes too difficult for them to remain because of countless obstacles, such as stairs.
Modifying your home is one way of being able to avoid or at least put off moving out, using hand rails and other gadgets that make life easier - but they come at a cost.
The report, commissioned by B&Q, showed that almost a third said they would be willing to pay more for a home that has been built or adapted to suit old age. A quarter of people said they were willing to pay up to £10,000 for a home that has been 'future-proofed'. A further 11 per cent said they would pay up to £15,000.
Disabled Facilities Grants will pay for a whole range of adaptations to homes from installing rails to stairlifts as well as full scale conversions.
But money is tight at local authorities, and can run out very quickly.
Saga long-term care expert Owain Wright said: "Continued independence is an obvious and laudable goal and every effort should be made to support it.
"Family members must be careful to ensure, however, that striving for independence does not lead to dangerous situations.
"Sometimes it must be faced that one's health and welfare would be better served in an environment other than home.
"Having your care provided for you in a residential or nursing home should certainly not be seen as the end of the line, though. Not by any means.
"While care homes are often thought of in negative terms, this is mainly because, as ever, it is the bad news that seems to find its way into the pages of our newspapers.
"The truth is that most care homes are well run, safe, clean and friendly places that often give people who stay there a new lease of life.
"Try thinking hotel with care rather than care home."
