Seventy-four per cent of residents feel happier or just as happy and experience less isolation after moving to a care home, according to a new survey.
The research carried out by Hallmark Care Homes found 89 per cent of residents take part in a social activity at least once a week compared to before joining the care home.
Twenty-three per cent of people surveyed said that their relative or friend lived with a partner before they moved into a care home. Fifty-nine per cent had been living alone for over five years prior to their move.
Avnish Goyal, managing director for Hallmark Care Homes and chair of Care England said: “It is widely recognised that social isolation is a growing issue among older people. This is a problem which is likely to develop as time goes by given our aging population and the constraints on the social care budget.
“Our research shows that those living within our communities of care benefit from regular social interaction and take the opportunity to join planned activities, thereby enhancing their quality of life and increasing their levels of happiness.”
He added: “However, it is important to stress that the approach to social activity should be centred on the individual resident and their preferences which is why we make great efforts to find out as much about our residents as we can prior to moving in using our ‘About Me’ booklet which gives us insight into the social activities that they might enjoy.”
Hallmark Care Homes was set up in 1997 and runs 17 care homes across England and Wales.
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