Planning for your future care

Hampshire Perspectives is the County Council’s residents’ forum.

This report summarises key findings from the 41st Hampshire Perspectives survey.

It was conducted to help us improve our understanding around planning for future care needs, and to inform communications promoting an online event around planning for future support. This event was held in March to help Hampshire residents understand what support is available. It was free to attend, and co-ordinated by Age UK Surrey for people living in selected areas of the South east.

The survey itself was open between 14 and 27 February 2024. Hampshire Perspectives members were invited to take part, and it was also publicised on the County Council’s ‘Other Ways to have your Say’ webpage. 756 respondents completed it in total.

Key findings

• Of the 757 Hampshire residents who responded, 74% have made some form of plans for their future care and support needs. Younger respondents (the under 55s) were the least likely to have done so.
• Those who have planned, are most likely to have taken legal advice, or steps to improve their health, and were typically prompted to do so by age related milestones such as a significant birthday, or a life event such as retirement.
• For the 26% of survey participants who had not made plans, there were mixed levels of intent to plan, with only 6% thinking they would do so very soon. Almost three quarters of non-planners felt that the most likely prompt for them to consider their future care and support needs would be ill health.
• 92% of respondents expressed at least some level of concern about their future care and support. While the least likely group to have made plans, respondents aged under 55 were among the groups showing the highest level of concern.
• Remaining independent, happiness / wellbeing and maintaining one’s dignity were the most significant concerns overall. However, paying for care, and relying on others were also important for over half the respondents.
• Despite their high levels of concern, three quarters of respondents (75%) said there were barriers to planning. For nearly half of them, (47%), this was about the unpredictability of not knowing what was to come, while for almost a third (32%) it was financial concerns (especially for those with health limitations). These two factors were particularly worrying for younger respondents (under 55s), who also felt less confident about where to find information to help planning, and were less likely than older respondents to have the time to plan.
• Most survey participants felt that they themselves would be their main source of support either practically, financially, or both. This was followed by family (more for practical support) and local services (a mix of practical, and practical plus financial support).
• Just under half the respondents (45%) had a Legal Power of Attorney in place, with likelihood to have one linked to level of confidence in understanding what it is. Over 75s were the most likely group to have a Legal Power of Attorney in place.
• If respondents wished to find out more about planning for future care and support needs, most (70%) would use the internet, especially if they were younger (under 55). The next most likely sources of information were health services, or friends and family.