LONDON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Basked in the rare winter sunshine poured into his room through a window, the old man sat on his bed, watching TV while biting into the biscuits that the care home workers just gave him as snack.
Trevor Barnett, 74, has been living in a care home in downtown London for half a year.
A circus performer before retirement, the old man broke his neck in 2011 when doing exercises. Barnett's wife suffered ailment in the legs and his son worked in Spain. As his nerves were damaged and recovery could be slow, the hospital insisted that he be attended in a care home and found the current one for him.
Every day, workers from the care home help him with the washing and bring him dinners to the bed. If weather permits, they would put him on wheelchair and take him to the garden.
Barnett's wife visits him twice a month. The old man has a computer, with which he could chat online with his family.
The manager of the care home, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that services enjoyed by Barnett were funded entirely by the government, about 800 pounds (1244 U.S. dollars) to 815 pounds (1267 dollars) a week.
In that care home, there are more than 90 elderly people like Barnett, whose ages average at 88. They were mostly empty nesters without children living together to take care of them.
"In such an industrial and fast-pace country as Britain, people can't take care of their parents any more because of their work or their own children to raise," said the manager.
CARE HOME V.S. HOME CARE
Britain has been challenged by a rapidly aging population. Among the 63 million people across the country, about 14 million are above 60, including 1.4 million above 85 and more than 12,000 centenarian. It was estimated that in 2030, nearly one third of the employees in Britain will be above 50.
With the development of the society, life expectancy is growing and families tend to be dispersed. Meanwhile, more couples opt not to have children. All these factors boil down to a growing number of elderly people living in empty nests.
This imposes a great challenge to the British government.
Care for older people was provided almost exclusively by the state until the 1980s. At this point demand for residential and nursing care began to outstrip supply. Hence independent and private sector surged to invest. Now independent sectors account for approximately 92 percent of the market.
Services are provided in two ways: care homes and household services.
Britain now has 18,000 care homes, accommodating more than 500,000 elderly people. According to Chris Manthorp, independent consultant of Barchester Healthcare, the fourth biggest independent healthcare provider in the country, the elderly people in care homes are mostly old and with some sort of illnesses.
"The average age for entry into residential care is now approximately 87 years, with 70 to 75 percent of them admitted living with some degree of dementia," he said in an interview with Xinhua.
Those with savings over 23,250 pounds should pay for the services. But those with savings under 13,000 pounds are entirely funded by the government.
"Most people who go into care homes receive at least some funding from state contributions," said Manthorp, adding that as a result, they have to meet certain criteria through assessment to get the funding.
The manager in Barnett's care home noted that the assessment could be complicated and the document includes 88 pages.
Services in the care home range from cooking to washing, from cleaning to hairdressing. In that care home, chiropodist, optician, dentist, physiotherapist as well as general practitioner are all available.
In Barnett's care home, a worker Elaine Smith showed Xinhua reporter several forms, in which detailed information of each elderly people's diet, hygiene and defecation was recorded. "If anyone here felt uncomfortable, his doctor could check the record here so as to find out the cause," she said.
The elderly people could file complaints to the manager or local authority. An independent Care Quality Commission checks the care homes several times each year to evaluation their work. Those found disqualified would be warned, fined or even closed.
To those who are reluctant to move into care homes, a range of services are offered. "By far the most common choice is the use of a home care worker, who will help with domestic tasks and minor care needs," Manthorp said.
They are entitled to an assessment as well, so that some will receive state support in terms of payment for services.
Professional senior care is usually provided by non-government organizations, like Age UK, the largest charity for older people in the country.
SHORTAGE AND OTHER OPTION
However, such senior care model has some problems, most importantly the lack of funding. After the financial crisis, the private sector sees more pressure in operation, while local governments cut funding in this aspect.
As most of the elderly people who purchased senior care services, in care homes or at home alike, were financially supported by the government, the cut of government funding surely affected the private sector.
One of the examples is Southern Cross, one of the leading senior care operators in Britain with more than 800 care homes which went bankrupt last year. From September 2010 to September 2011, as many as 73 such enterprises went into administration in Britain.
Charities are faced with fund shortage as well. According to Stephen Lowe, social care policy advisor with Age UK, their money came mostly from local authorities and donations.
Seventy-two experts from Age UK and some other charities published an open letter at the beginning of this January on Daily Telegraph, urging the government to make an "urgent, fundamental and lasting reform," so as to provide the "well-funded and high-quality care and support."
Of course, not all of the empty nesters rely on commercial senior care services. In many areas, especially in the countryside, local communities provided voluntary aid to the seniors.
Sandra Purretts, 66, has been living in the Wingrave Town of Buckinghamshire County for 34 years with her husband. Their son lives in northwest Scotland and it takes them 12 hours driving to visit him. Their daughter is now living with her boyfriend in Newcastle, about six hours drive away from the couple. As a result, Sandra only sees her children three or four times a year.
Sandra goes to the local church, where she has lots of friends. They help each other in case of difficulties. The old lady remembered in October 2010, her next door neighbor, a 62-year-old man was diagnosed as lung cancer. "We take turns to cook for the family every day, so that the wife could tend her husband in the hospital," she said.
Later the old man died. Neighbors and friends helped with the funeral.
Sandra said she didn't want to move to live with her children when she got old. "I have been living here for such a long time," she said. Nor would she go the care homes. "It is not my own home after all."
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