According to the annual statistics, 4,185 elderly people received care in homes, with day, home, and respite care provided to an additional 166 individuals. The homes employ 2,257 staff members and benefit from the support of 726 volunteers.
Key Findings from 2019/20 to 2023/24
Resident Numbers and Preferences
- There has been a 5% decrease in the number of residents within the homes, dropping from 3,262 to 3,100. This decline may partly be due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020/21, from which homes have not yet fully recovered.
- Conversely, there was a 6% increase in the use of accommodation outside the homes, suggesting a preference among older persons to remain in their private housing units for as long as possible before transitioning to residential care.
Financial Support and Payment Structures
- There was an 11% decrease in residents relying solely on social grants without additional payments for resident rates.
- The number of residents receiving social grants with additional financial support from children or families increased by 6.5%.
- Overall, the proportion of sub-economic residents (those receiving social grants) remained constant at just under 50%, regardless of their ability to pay the full rate. Similarly, the proportion of economic residents (those able to pay the full rate) stayed at around 50%.
Demographic and Staffing Changes
- The number of residents aged 80 and over increased from 61% to 63%, aligning with expectations of an aging population within care homes.
- Despite efforts to diversify resident demographics, the proportion of white residents rose from 86.2% to 88.9%, while the number of colored residents decreased from 13.2% to 10.6%.
Staffing Challenges and Community Involvement
- There was a concerning 24% decrease in nursing staff, dropping from 329 to 264, despite the increasing care needs of aging residents.
- To compensate, there was a 17% increase in care staff, rising from 960 to 1,122.
- Positively, community involvement increased, as evidenced by a 12% rise in the number of volunteers, from 648 to 726, indicating greater community engagement and responsibility for the homes.
These findings highlight the evolving dynamics in elderly care, reflecting both challenges and positive trends in community support and resident preferences.
