The importance of increased care providers

A recently published report on the care industry has highlighted just how crucial the next few decades will be. It’s expected that more and more people will require social care services for longer as life expectancy rises.

The current demand for care services is now beginning to outweigh the available supply, and this is set to get worse if care provisions remain at similar levels to today. Our ageing population means it’s important for this industry to expand provisions across the country, so we can accommodate the sheer numbers of people requiring assistance.

The social care climate in the UK today has been labeled as a “crisis”, with present services falling short. That’s why SureCare is committed to expanding across the country, with new franchisees continuing to come on board, so that our high quality care services can reach those most in need in their own homes.

The new research

A team of academics at Newcastle University conducted research by comparing the numbers of people receiving care in 1991 and 2011. They concluded that an extra 71,000 people would require regular care by the year 2025, and this number is expected to rise over the following decade to 190,000 people in 2035.

On top of this, higher levels of frailty mean that the length of care needed has doubled in the last two decades. Compared to figures in 1991, over 65s can now expect to spend twice as long receiving assistance, whether they require occasional regular visits or permanent round-the-clock care.

The report’s lead author, Professor Carol Jagger said: “The past 20 years have seen continued gains in life expectancy but not all of these years have been healthy.” She also stated: “this finding, along with increased number of older adults with higher rates of illness and disability, is contributing to the current social care crisis.”

Greater investment required

Earlier this year, the government unveiled that more funding will be made available for the care sector over the coming years, in response to the looming social care crisis. At the 2017 Spring Budget, it was announced that an additional £2 billion would be made available to councils in England over the next three years for adult social care.

The time is right for new business opportunities within the care sector. With increased demand for services and boosted support from local councils, starting up a home care business in your area will surely benefit the local area and the wider care community as a whole.

Home care vs. care homes

The research points towards a need to make more spaces available in care homes, however, this may not be the most practical approach. A spokesperson from the Department of Health has pointed out that data from the Care Quality Commission indicates the number of beds in care homes in 2016 had risen by just 0.2% compared to 2010 figures.

They noted: “High quality care isn’t just about care home beds – 61% of people are cared for in their own home”. There has been a significant rise in the number of home care agencies since 2010, allowing more people to benefit from domiciliary care as a preferable and viable alternative to crowded care homes.

Franchising with SureCare

By setting up your own home care businesses, you’ll be able to contribute towards your community on a long-term basis, providing vital services to those who need them. Going it alone is no mean feat, however. Fortunately, that’s where SureCare can help you.

Joining our network of franchise teams across the country allows you to benefit from in-depth training and business support, alongside specialist recruitment of highly sought-after care workers. This allows your business to provide the best quality of care to more and more people who desperately need it in these changing times.

Franchising with SureCare is a brilliant way to help to provide essential domiciliary and live-in care services to people in your local community, all while running your own business. At SureCare, we pride ourselves on our capability to deliver care services to an exceptional degree of quality.

If you’re looking to start your own business in the home care industry, speak to SureCare to see how franchising can benefit you. Call us on 01244 321 199 or email enquiries@surecare.co.uk