Older people are nearly a third more likely to go into a care home after spending time with their family over the festive season, according to new data released by carehome.co.uk, the leading care home reviews site.
Over the last three years, carehome.co.uk, which helps people search for a care home, has seen a dramatic increase in traffic in January, compared with figures in December. In January 2024, the number of visitors to their site surged by 32% with over 375,000 extra visitors to its website compared with the month before. In 2023, the number of visitors to their site rose by over 342,000 and in 2022, by just over 258,000.
The festive season often acts as a turning point, as families come together for a longer period and notice a decline in the health, mobility and independence of their loved ones.
The emotional and physical strain of caregiving, coupled with a rise in loneliness and illness during the winter months, drives many families to look for full-time residential care for their loved ones at the start of the new year.
Data from carehome.co.uk shows the average fee for people paying for their own residential care in the UK is £1,160 a week. So it is not surprising that the complexities of funding residential care and uncertainty over how families will pay for it, also adds further challenges to those looking for care and making these difficult decisions in January.
Additional data from carehome.co.uk also shows that out of over 38,441 care seekers who made care enquiries between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024, over a fifth (21%) of people seeking care did not know how their care would be funded. As few as 16% reported they were able to access local authority funding.
These figures reveal the emotional and financial pressures families face after the holidays, as they seek to secure the best care for their loved ones in the face of rising costs and limited funding options.
Sue Learner, editor of carehome.co.uk, the leading reviews site for care homes, said:
“Spending time with family is a wonderful part of the festive season, but it can also bring to light the harsh realities of ageing. Over Christmas, relatives often spend extended time with their older family members and for many, this can be the first time they notice changes in mobility, memory, or overall well-being. These realisations can be difficult and emotional, prompting tough conversations about the best way forward.
“The surge in traffic we experience every January reflects the challenges many families face and shows the huge value of having access to quality care home reviews and care information to help people navigate a complex social care system.”
