Caring for Ageing Parents: What Families Need to Know About Care Options
Across the UK, many families – often adult children – are quietly taking on the full-time care of their ageing parents. New research from Noble Live-In Care highlights the huge personal cost this devotion can bring: exhaustion, poor mental health, financial strain, and carers feeling they must manage alone.
Yet families do have options. Whether you are looking for occasional help, full-time support, or a safe care home environment, it’s important to understand what’s available so that your parent – and your family – can thrive.
The Reality of Family Care
- Six in ten UK adults have promised a parent they’ll never move them into a care home
- More than 70% say they feel emotionally obligated to keep that promise – even when it takes a toll on their own health or finances
- Over half (57%) of unpaid carers report feeling overwhelmed ‘often’ or ‘always’
- Nearly three-quarters (74%) say they are ‘worn out’, with many unable to take a proper break
These figures from Noble Live-In Care reflect the difficult choices many families face.
Exploring the Care Options
Visiting Carers (Domiciliary Care)
Carers can visit once or several times a day to help with meals, personal care, or medication.
- ✅ Good for families who live nearby but need support at key times
- ✅ Allows older people to stay in their own home
- ❌ Support is limited to short visits, so loneliness or emergencies may still be a concern
Live-In Care
A professional carer moves into the home to provide one-to-one support around the clock.
- ✅ Allows your parent to remain at home in familiar surroundings
- ✅ Provides companionship and reassurance, especially overnight
- ✅ Eases pressure on families who cannot be there all the time
- ❌ Cost is higher than visiting care, but often lower than residential care
Respite Care in a Care Home
Short-term stays in a care home provide full support while the family carer takes a break.
- ✅ Helpful if a family carer needs rest, is unwell, or going on holiday
- ✅ Gives the older person a safe and social environment
- ❌ Only temporary – may not be suitable for long-term needs
Moving to a Care Home
For some families, a permanent move to a care home provides the reassurance of 24-hour care.
- ✅ Professional support and safety at all times
- ✅ Social interaction with other residents
- ❌ Can feel like a loss of independence
- ❌ Many older people prefer to stay at home if possible
Finding the Right Balance
Caring for an ageing parent will always be personal and emotional. But families should not feel they must carry the responsibility alone.
Whether that means arranging visiting carers, considering live-in care, trying respite care, or exploring a care home move, each option has its place depending on your parent’s health, your family’s circumstances, and the level of support needed.
As Noble Live-In Care’s research shows, most older people want to stay at home – but the most important thing is that families have real, sustainable choices.
Next Step for Families:
If you’re supporting an older parent, start by:
- Talking openly about their wishes
- Assessing their daily needs (meals, medication, mobility, companionship)
- Contacting their local authority or care providers to explore available support.
This article was written with the support of ChatGTP, which in this instance was very helpful.
Image from Unsplash