New Birdie research reveals state of adoption of professional homecare

Fewer than 1 in 10 elderly Brits receive professional homecare, putting significant strain on families and care quality

• An investigation by Birdie found that only 6% of the UK’s elderly care recipients have state or private homecare, with 4% receiving care from district nurses and less than 1% residing in care homes.
• The care burden therefore falls on families to provide over 60% of support and other forms of informal support including neighbours and friends
• Reliance on informal care is taking its toll, with 53% of care recipients saying they need more support.

A new investigation into the state of elderly care in the UK offers the first comprehensive view from care recipients themselves, uncovering critical gaps in access to professional care and an overwhelming reliance on family support.

Conducted by homecare technology provider Birdie, the “Village of Care” report surveyed Britons aged 70 and older who access care. Startlingly, it found that only 6% of respondents receive state-funded or private home care. 

Only 4% of participants report having district nurses within their care network, and less than 2% are in care homes or assisted living facilities. This demonstrates the struggle to access professional care services, with an estimated 400,000 people on waiting lists. These access issues are likely to stem from financial limitations for private care, a lack of awareness about available services, complex application processes for public care, and regional shortages. 

As a result, families up and down the UK are bearing the brunt of elderly care needs, supporting over 60% of respondents. However, this reliance on family care is already taking a toll, with over half (53%) of those surveyed saying they need more help than they currently receive. With a rapidly ageing population, the report warns that this situation is likely to deteriorate, with families ill-equipped to take on more complex care demands, creating caregiver burnout and clinical risk as a result. 

The report also highlights rising care needs with nearly half (44%) of those 70 and above requiring ongoing support from two or more specialist caregivers. However, the findings reveal an acute need for better communication among caregivers, a lack of which can have consequences for the quality of care, such as delays or errors in medical treatment (37% of surveyed care recipients), and increased stress (33%). 

The report suggests a two-pronged approach to improving social care. Using digital platforms to connect all care providers—formal and informal—to share data and prevent gaps in care, and transforming care coordination by educating about the benefits of information sharing and better supporting informal carers. This would lead to a more connected, advanced care network for older adults.

These ideas and more are presented in an additional whitepaper produced by Birdie with the input of 20 social care and NHS experts (available here), where seven policy actions needed to support social care are outlined in full to the Government. 

To review all research results, please download Birdie’s full report here.

‍Max Parmentier, CEO and Co-Founder of Birdie said: "This investigation is a clarion call to improve access to health and social care. The new government is right to focus on community-based care—just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to care for our elders, from GPs and nurses to family and friends. However, while this model is essential, it needs urgent support. Unpaid carers, like families and friends, require a national support system. We also need urgent reforms to better connect the NHS with social care providers, improve information sharing, and update Care Quality Commission assessments to ensure our elderly population receives the quality of care they deserve.”