Two Fifths (42%) Of Over 65s Have Been Unable To Access The Care They Needed During The Pandemic

Care workers and those within the NHS have worked tirelessly throughout 2020. But the increased pressure during the pandemic has meant that people across all age groups have had more difficulty booking GP appointments, seeing a medical professional or accessing care services. With a new national lockdown announced this week many will be worried about the overstretched health services and the impact this will have on the care of themselves and their loved ones.

Audley Group, the retirement living provider, has conducted research that has found that during the pandemic two fifths (42%) of over 65s have been unable to access the care they needed during the pandemic. Please see below further findings and comment from Nick Sanderson, CEO of Audley Group:

Of the over 65s who have been unable to access the care, 12% of those said it has been incredibly difficult

For those over 65 who struggled to access care, 40% said they just had to bear with it

Over a tenth (11%) of over 65s, a friend or family stepped in to provide support during this time.

Covid-19 has led many people to think about how financially prepared they are for later life. A fifth (17%) of over 65s say they are not financially prepared to cover care costs for themselves or their loved ones. Across all age groups, 20% said that they are not at all prepared for future care costs.

Nick Sanderson, CEO of Audley Group, commented: “The challenges of the past year have prompted many of us to think about how important access to care facilities is in our later lives. There’s no clearer indicator of their value than during a global pandemic, when health services are strained, and our health is compromised. And we owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have worked so hard this year in the face of overwhelming pressure.

“Not only is access to care extremely important as we get older, but so is support in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and general wellbeing, especially when times are tough. Having this support as we age will lessen the need for intervention later in life. That’s why, as a country, we need to provide more specialist housing options that enable people to access care and everyday health support, while taking some of the pressure off our health services. The Government need to make this a priority, so that nobody has to ‘just bear’ having no access to the support that they need.”