Average Age To Go Into a Care Home + Other Key Care Home Statistics
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As we age, our care needs will change. There may come a time when you or your loved one require additional support, whether in a care home, within your own home, or elsewhere.
If you’re wondering when the right time to move into a care home is, we’ve provided invaluable information for care seekers, including the average age people go into care homes, how long it takes to move into a care home, and whether people search for themselves or someone else when looking for care.
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What Is The Average Age To Go Into a Care Home?
The average age of people moving into a care home in the UK is between 85 and 94, with this group making up 44% of residents, according to Lottie's internal data. The next most common age range is 75 to 84, accounting for 35%.
People are far less likely to enter a care home outside this age range. Just 13% of residents are aged 65 to 74, while only 8% are 95 or older.
| Age Range | Percentage of People Who Go Into Care Homes At This Age |
|---|---|
| 65-74 | 13% |
| 75-84 | 35% |
| 85-94 | 44% |
| 95+ | 8% |
How does this vary by different types of care?
People with significant care needs are more likely to enter a care home at an earlier age. 17% of people who require nursing care enter a care home between 65 and 74, compared to 13% of people who need residential care.
Nursing care is aimed at those who require 24/7 support from nurses due to medical conditions or other complex healthcare needs, while residential care is aimed at those who need some extra support on a regular basis with daily tasks like using the bathroom, getting dressed and undressed, getting in and out of bed, and taking certain medications.
Similarly, people who require residential care are more likely to enter a care home later in life. 10% of residential care seekers are 95+, compared to just 5% of people living with dementia who need additional support.
People living with dementia are most likely to enter a care home between 75 and 94. 85% of those in need of standard dementia care enter a care home between 75 and 94, compared to 81% of people who require nursing dementia care.
In a dementia care home, expert carers are trained in specialist dementia care methods, including reminiscence therapy and calming techniques when residents are displaying challenging behaviour.
| Age Range | Residential Care | Nursing Care | Dementia Care | Nursing Dementia Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65-74 | 13% | 17% | 10% | 12% |
| 75-84 | 30% | 31% | 40% | 40% |
| 75-84 | 47% | 43% | 45% | 41% |
| 95+ | 10% | 9% | 5% | 7% |
The average age of people who require permanent and respite care
Many more people look for permanent care than respite care, with around 75% for permanent care compared to 25% for short-term respite.
Permanent care is most common for those aged 85-94 (77%), while respite care is most common for those aged 65-74 (27%) and 75-84 (26%).
Through permanent care, you or your loved one will move into a care home on a permanent, full-time basis. On the other hand, respite care is given temporarily, often for two or three weeks at a time. Respite care allows regular carers to take a break or go on a well-deserved holiday, safe in the knowledge that their loved one is being cared for in a purpose-built setting by warm, experienced carers.
Our data also shows that demand for respite stays is growing. An increasing number of people are trialling care before moving into a home permanently, while others are utilising it more when they want to take breaks or go on holidays. Demand for respite care peaks around August, with the majority of carers taking breaks or holidays during this period.
| Age Range | Permanent Care | Respite Care |
|---|---|---|
| 65-74 | 73% | 27% |
| 75-84 | 74% | 26% |
| 85-94 | 77% | 23% |
| 95+ | 76% | 24% |
How Long Does It Take People To Move Into a Care Home?
Data from our 2024 Care Seeker Survey shows that finding the right care home now takes five weeks, 30% longer than in 2021. People visit an average of 3.5 homes before making the final decision. In addition, it takes an additional two weeks on average to move in, bringing the total to seven weeks.
This often lengthy process causes families to make rushed decisions, with 44% regretting their choice. Early planning is essential to ensure the best outcome for you and your loved ones.
Further insights from Lottie care seekers in 2024 show that nearly half of people want to move into a care home as soon as possible, with an additional 32% looking in the next 1-3 months. Just 19% of care seekers want to move into a care home in three months or longer.
| How Far In Advance Are People Searching For a Care Home? | Number of People |
|---|---|
| As soon as possible | 49% |
| In 1-3 months | 32% |
| In 3-6 months | 11% |
| In 6-12 months | 5% |
| In more than 12 months | 3% |
Dementia Is The Most Searched-For Type Of Care
The most common type of care searched for by Lottie users is dementia care. 42% of people in need of a care home have dementia care needs (when combining dementia and nursing dementia care).
The next most searched-for type of care is residential care (36%). Residential care searches are seasonal, with increases in the summer months and drops in the winter months,
6% of people aren’t sure what care they or their loved ones require, indicating that the majority are aware of the main care types.
| Care Type | How Much Are People Searching For It? |
|---|---|
| Residential care | 36% |
| Dementia care | 33% |
| Nursing care | 16% |
| Nursing dementia care | 9% |
| Unsure of what care type is needed | 6% |
Are People Searching For Themselves Or On Behalf Of Someone Else?
Over half of care seekers (56%) are looking for care on behalf of a parent. Similarly, 28% are looking for a different family member, such as spouses, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. This means the total number of people looking for a care home on behalf of a family member is 84%.
A much smaller percentage of people search for themselves (13%), while around 3% of people will also search on behalf of a friend.
| Who Are Care Seekers Searching On Behalf Of? | Percentage Searching On Behalf Of This Person |
|---|---|
| For a parent | 56% |
| For a different family member | 28% |
| For themselves | 13% |
| For a friend | 3% |
When Is The Right Time To Go Into a Care Home?
There are several reasons why it might be the right time for someone to go into a care home, such as when:
- They’re finding it challenging to manage daily household chores like meal preparation and cooking, cleaning, and gardening
- They’re also struggling with personal care tasks such as washing, using the toilet, getting dressed and undressed, and getting in and out of bed
- They’re no longer safe in their own home unsupervised. This could be due to reduced mobility and being prone to falls, needing support with managing and taking medication, or something else
- Family members are unable to provide the level of care this person needs, such as if they have complex around-the-clock medical needs
- They’re living with dementia and are displaying symptoms that require specialist support, such as wandering, memory loss, hallucinations, or aggressive behaviour
- They’re feeling lonely and would benefit from the companionship that naturally comes with moving into a care home, both from carers and other residents
- They’ve been recommended to move into a care home after having a care needs assessment
If any of the above reasons apply, it may be time for your loved one to receive additional care, such as going into a care home. While having these conversations can be tough, they ensure everyone is on the same page. What’s most important is always to keep the best interests of the person requiring care in mind. Below, we’ve explained how to find care through Lottie’s free service.
Find a Care Home Through Lottie
We’ve made it easy to find the right care home for you or your loved one. Our handy care home search tool will show you relevant options in your local area. To narrow your search, you can filter by your budget, the type of care needed, and any facilities you’d like your new home to have.
Our care experts have vetted each home listed on our website based on the quality of care provided, regulator ratings, overall resident satisfaction, and much more, so you can feel confident about receiving an amazing service.
You can also request a free list of suitable care homes. Simply fill in the form, and our Care Experts will send you homes matching any requirements you’ve specified.
Care home alternatives
The most common alternative to living in a care home is being looked after in the comfort of your own home. This is known as home care. Through home care, you can be looked after on a visiting basis (where a carer regularly visits your home to provide care as required) or through live-in care (where a carer moves in with you or your loved one and provides care full-time).
We’ve partnered with the UK’s best home care agencies, and you can use Lottie to find home care near you. If you’d like to receive a list of suggestions tailored to your individual care requirements from our Care Experts, request a free list of home care agencies.
Methodology
We sought to determine the average age at which people go into care homes and other statistics about care homes, such as the number of people searching for different types of care and whether they’re searching for themselves or on behalf of someone else.
To achieve this, we applied the below steps to our methodology:
- We reviewed our internal database of user information.
- We worked out the average figures across 2024 for the following:
- The average age to go into a care home by care type and care tenancy
- How far in advance people are searching for care
- How many people are searching for the different types of care homes
- Whether people are searching for themselves or on behalf of others
- The above data reflects the most recent information available, based on 2024 figures.
All data used in this article is based on Lottie’s user base throughout 2024, along with our 2024 Care Seeker Survey. Please credit Lottie as the source if you'd like to use this data.
Lottie matches care seekers with the best care homes for their needs. You can also request a free list of care homes from our care experts, who will share homes matching your budget and location.
