Most advisers are proactive about asking clients about future care requirements, research from retirement specialists Just Group has revealed.
Its survey, of 200 adviser firms, found that 71% ask all clients whether they plan to receive care in their home, while 27% ask most of their clients.
Of the 89% of advisers who ask clients if they have preferences about where they would like to receive care, 81% said that they will also ask about the suitability or adaptability of their current homes for care in later life.
Other Just Group research found that 66% of over 45-year-olds say they don’t want to go into a residential care home,
While 65% would be happy to have carers come into their home to assist them with half (51%) not wanting their children to become their carers.
The survey also found that more than three quarters (76%) of people over 45 have not thought about care, planned for care or spoken to their family about it.
Those with experience of finding a care home for a loved one with support from an adviser were nearly four times more likely to subsequently make their own care plans than those who had made arrangements without adviser help.
Over a quarter (27%) of these respondents said this was prompted by the realisation of how difficult it was to organise care.
Just under a quarter (22%) said that the experience made them realise how expensive care can be.
Stephen Lowe, group communications director at retirement specialist Just Group, commented: “The financial-advice community is doing a stellar job supporting clients by encouraging them to explore what they would want if they do need care and working out how this can be funded.
“Adviser involvement in care cases not only improves the outcomes for the client, but our research shows it often galvanises other family members involved to start preparing for their own potential care needs.”
