SCIE reveal the general public is mystified by care system

The majority of Britons admit they do not know what options are available to them and two thirds have no idea how much care provision costs.

Key findings include:

• Majority of adults unaware of what care is available (59%) and have no idea how much it costs (66%)
• More than two thirds of people say that they are not likely to consider care decisions until they become urgent, increasing the risk of not choosing the best provision
• A quarter of adults who already use care provision say they struggled to find appropriate care and now feel they ended up with the wrong type of support.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'It's shocking to see that so many people feel uninformed and unprepared for when they might need to access care. It's vital that people understand the system and know the options available to them and their loved ones. With one in three people over the age of 65 set to develop dementia, it's crucial that people know how to access care that's right for them.'

George McNamara
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Alzheimer's Society