Mira Showers has launched a Cost of Care calculator to compare the cost of living in a residential care home versus the approximate cost for the ageing population to prepare their existing home for later in life.
Installers can use the new calculator to help customers discover what options are best suited to their needs, helping the older generation and their relatives find a cost-effective option that works for them.
The table below details how it is more affordable to ‘age-proof’ existing homes compared to moving into residential care homes. The five-year figures also include a 3% annual increase in fees for both at-home care and residential care.
When scaling residential nursing care costs over five years – and accounting for 3% fee rises in line with inflation – analysis shows it is 28% cheaper on average to receive full-time care at home and benefit from age-proofing products, no matter where you live in the UK.
| UK Region | Age-proofing vs residential care home annual fee | Age-proofing and PT care vs residential care home annual fee | Age-proofing and FT care vs residential nursing home annual fee | Age-proofing and PT care vs residential care home over 5 years | Age-proofing and FT care vs residential nursing care over 5 years |
| South East | 67% | 38% | 21% | 67% | 42% |
| East Anglia | 73% | 42% | 24% | 66% | 41% |
| London | 66% | 37% | 12% | 67% | 36% |
| South West | 65% | 33% | 17% | 64% | 38% |
| West Midlands | 56% | 20% | 5% | 58% | 31% |
| East Midlands | 69% | 33% | <1% | 61% | 23% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 64% | 27% | -0.5% | 59% | 23% |
| North West | 60% | 19% | 3% | 55% | 26% |
| North East | 67% | 30% | -11% | 60% | 14% |
| Wales | 68% | 32% | 3% | 60% | 24% |
| Scotland | 71% | 40% | 8% | 66% | 29% |
| Northern Ireland | 59% | 18% | -16% | 55% | 12% |
| UK AVERAGE | 65% | 31% | 5% | 62% | 28% |
A study conducted on behalf of Mira Showers also found that 87% of over-65s would rather grow old independently in their own home, and the Cost of Care calculator could help them make this decision.
The survey of 1,000 over-65s also found:
- 75% would most appreciate assisted-living products in the bathroom
- 73% agree that brands don’t do enough to marry functionality with style, and are put off by overly clinical products
- 70% prioritise style over function when it comes to adapting their homes to be suitable for their needs in later life.
Matt Herbert, spokesperson for Mira Showers, said: “This calculator changes the game for the ageing population. For many, growing old at home seems like a pipe dream, but in terms of costs, it could actually work out better for them in the long run. This tool puts the choice firmly back into the hands, not only of those who want to stay at home, but also those who haven’t been able to get the care home place they wanted.”
Roland Boal, Lead Industrial Designer at Mira Showers, added: “Brands across the globe have spent vast amounts of money on research and development to develop products that improve living for those less-abled which is fantastic, but now that the fundamentals of those designs are in place, it’s time we started putting more care and attention into the style of these products. Our research has clearly shown that over 65s in the UK still have an eye for design and a desire to keep their home their haven.”
The Mira Showers Cost of Care calculator can be viewed here.
