As the Social Media and Content Marketing Specialist for Manage At Home and Medequip, I am constantly looking at different ways to raise awareness and understanding of the companies I represent online. Through social media, the public makes comments and presumptions regarding the target audience of both companies. Especially for our retail outlet, Manage At Home, people feel that we only cater to the elderly. This is not true.
In this micro-essay, I aim to set out an argument for Daily living Aids and services provided by companies such as Manage At Home being in universal demand, and dispel the myth that these products and services are only for people 65 and over.
An ageing population
As stated in 'Overview of the UK population: July 2017' released by the Office for National Statistics, people in Britain are living longer than ever before, with 18% of the population over 65 and 2.4% aged 85 and above in 2016. This means that there is a much higher demand than ever before for Daily Living Aids and products to help keep over 65's independent for longer.
However, the 'Health Survey for England 2017' reported that 23% of men and 28% of women aged over 65 reported the need for help in at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL). When compared to the 2011 edition of the same survey, it shows a significant decline in need, as it stated that 27% of men and 36% of women declared the need for aid with one or more ADL.
Considering both reports, it could be argued that although the age of the UK population is rising, people 65 and over are reporting less need for assistive care. This could suggest two possibilities: People are choosing to remain independent of care and are starting to rely less on Daily Living Aids, or the choice to not state a need for care could lead to more demand for buying Daily Living Aids independently from Manage At Home or similar companies.
Working-age adults & funded social care: A divide
In the 'Welfare Trends Report: January 2019' released by the Office of Budget Responsibility, it was reported that between 2004/5 and 2016/17 disability prevalence & prevalence of disability benefit receipts in the UK has risen by 36% and 31% respectively for working-age adults. However, these changes could be due to several reasons including recent alterations in the perception of disabilities. An example of this is the notable increase in awareness of mental health conditions.
The 'Social Care 360' report states; 'Publicly funded social care is available only to people with high enough needs' and argues that because of financial thresholds remaining unchanged 'fewer people will be eligible for local authority support and may not approach local authorities at all but instead purchase care directly.' (Simon Bottery et al, 2019).
This suggests that with the increase in the prevalence of disability in working-age adults and the likeliness of ineligibility for council-funded care, companies such as Manage At Home should see a notable shift in their demographics if they haven't already.
Paying for independence: A Convenient Solution
Despite Boris Johnson's government pledging a further £1.8bn to the NHS in August, it's no secret that Local councils and overall governmental funding are on the decline, with major northern cities reportedly scrambling to find upwards of £50 million just to stand still. This suggests that any future funding into reducing wait times for Occupational Therapist assessments and District Nurse visits may come into jeopardy.
Local authorities and CCGs have adopted a drive for preventative care, signposting services like Manage At Home for Daily Living Aids that could be bought and utilised to prevent more serious health issues further down the line.
Purchasing equipment and aids is not only the current preferred prevention method, but it also offers convenience, as options are made available to find what's right for the person. An example of this is AskSARA, an online self-help guide that, through answering a short personalised questionnaire, provides you with products and information that could help you with your condition. Platforms such as these are ideal for both working-age adults and over 65s and promote self-care.
Promoting self-care for all
Manage At Home and Medequip have a small team that attend events across the country, offering information and advice on how to make independence easier. Covering well over 200 events a year in around 40 different areas of the UK the events team see many people, spanning a wide age range and level of ability.
With the UK population not only ageing but growing year on year, It's important now more than ever that we make all houses accessible for all. Taking the step to support & promote the independent purchasing of Daily Living Aids and equipment is a major first step. Handing people the power as to what goes in their homes not only makes it easier to aid independence but relieves pressure from an already stretched NHS budget and provides an alternative to Community Equipment Loans.
Further Reading and Resources
Visit the Manage At Home website
Visit the Medequip Website
Use Medequip/Manage At Home's Self Help Guide (AskSARA) by clicking here
See the Office for National Statistics' 'Overview of the Population: July 2017'
Read the 'Health Survey for England 2017'
Read more of the 'Social Care 360' here