The future of senior living is being transformed by technology, according to a new report from Elior UK’s care subsidiary Caterplus.
Findings reveal that the ageing population expects technology to integrate with and improve lifestyles, offering a personalised service for leisure activities, medical needs, eating and drinking, and overall wellbeing.
A strong 66% of the ageing population expect the rise of technology in care provisions to make life easier, and over 97% expect internet facilities as part of their care provision. Many expect technology to provide medical support, as 74% want to oversee their own care profile and preferences using a mobile or tablet app.
Launching today, The Future of Care: How the Nation Wants to Age provides an insight into what care provisions and retirement communities of the future will look like. How culinary, environmental, health and cultural offerings within care will change over the next twenty years.
Drawing upon findings from Caterplus’ UK-wide study of over 3,000 respondents aged between 45 and 75, the report listens to the nation’s priorities for later life living. It also acts as a guide for care providers, offering wide-ranging insights and constructive recommendations to meet the needs of this diverse group and create the ideal later life provision of the future.
Paul Burstow, former Minister of State for Care Home Services, has supported and contributed to the report. He said, “By listening to people in later life we can make a difference now... Care providers and policymakers would do well to take on board the insights and challenges in this report, to improve future care for generations to come.”
Robin Givens, managing director contracts at Elior UK, said, “Over 50s account for more than a third of the population and half of consumer expenditure. They hold 80% of all personal wealth and control around 70% of all disposable income – so hold considerable influence as a group.
We created this report to give the entire care industry – be it caterers, care providers, architects or builders – a clearer direction as to what we should be doing to create a future care provision that is truly fit for purpose for this diverse group.”
Investigating key areas of the ageing process, such as choosing a care provision, communication, and health and wellbeing, other standout findings include:
> 69% of people would book on to activities and classes using technology or apps
> 71% expect to see a café, restaurant or bar that can be visited outside of meal times
> 80% say ‘freedom of life’ is the most important factor affecting their choice of care provision
> 88% expect care provisions to be equipped for them to move in with their partner
> 84% want their chosen care provision to resemble a home but offer the services of a hotel
