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Older People confirm Live-in Nursing would be first choice

Recent independent research, commissioned by Consultus Care & Nursing Agency Ltd and carried out with a large number of older people, has shown that this group has very clear views on where they would prefer to receive the nursing they need.

The research, which was conducted this month by TNS Face to Face Services with a national sample of adults aged 75 and over, has revealed an overwhelmingly strong preference for live-in nursing: 88% (of adults aged 75 and over) preferring to receive long-term nursing care at home, compared to only 7% who would prefer a nursing home. In fact, the possibility of one day going into a nursing home worried 57% of respondents.

After a spell in hospital, perhaps following illness or an operation, 91% of older people would prefer to return home to convalesce. This compares to 4% in a nursing home and 1% on a hospital ward.

The results signal a clear message from the elderly. Particularly in regard to obtaining live-in nursing through the NHS as some trusts do not make this option available, despite the fact that the wishes of patients should be taken into account – the survey showed that 87% of people think that live-in nursing should be more readily available from the state.

More nursing in the community could have a beneficial effect on bed blocking as well as positive psychological effects for the patient from staying in the familiar surroundings of their own home.

Boosting this additional kind of nursing career would provide an alternative career option for nurses in need of flexible employment outside of the ailing NHS system.

Kevin May, Registered Manager of Consultus Care & Nursing Agency, comments:  “This research, which is the first of its kind, has underlined the strong views held by the elderly about where they choose to be nursed. Paradoxically at a time when Trusts hit worst by the NHS budget crisis are cutting back on nurses, there is a real demand for live-in nurses. These skilled health care workers are able to give our clients the 24/7 nursing care that they clearly want, whilst a choice of working weeks enables more nurses to remain in the profession that they have chosen.  The reality is that live-in Nursing can provide an economical solution to both patients and nurses.”

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