Seven in ten Britons are scared of going into a care home, a YouGov survey commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Society shows.
An overwhelming majority (70%) of the public say they would be scared of going into a care home, compared to under a fifth (19%) that would not be fearful. 11% are unsure.
Abuse must be prevented
Following a series of damaging incidents in care homes, almost two-thirds (64%) think the sector is not doing enough to tackle abuse for those in care, while 7% disagree. Nearly one in five (19%) have a neutral opinion on the issue.
Meanwhile, over half (53%) of Britons say the threat of abuse would be their biggest concern if a relative was moving into a care home. This compares to just under a fifth (18%) whose greatest worry is that their relative would lose independence and 12% who believe potential boredom would be of the utmost concern.
Care for people with dementia
Our poll also reveals that three in ten (30%) believe people with dementia are treated well in care homes. This compares to almost a quarter (24%) who disagree and just under a third (32%) that have a neutral opinion. This follows a report from the Alzheimer’s Society which found that four-fifths of people living in care homes suffer from dementia or severe memory problems.
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Society has such low expectations of care homes that people are settling for average. Throughout our lives we demand the best for ourselves and our children. Why do we expect less for our parents? We need the government and care homes to work together to lift up expectations so people know they have the right to demand the best.”
The Alzheimer’s Society works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
