When families begin thinking about later life care, one message comes through clearly – most people don’t want to leave their home.
It’s not just a preference. It’s where life has happened. Where routines feel natural, where memories live, and where people feel most like themselves.
Research from the Office for National Statistics shows that, among people who had expressed a preference, 79% wanted to die at home. Yet only half were able to do so. Many still spend their final days in hospital, despite wishing otherwise.
This gap matters. It highlights how often care decisions are made too late, or without the right support in place to make staying at home possible.
More recent figures show the same pattern. In England, less than a third of people die at home, with the majority still passing away in hospitals or care homes. For those aged 85 and over, the likelihood of dying at home is even lower.
At the same time, attitudes towards residential care continue to shift. More people are openly saying they do not want to move into a care home. Instead, they are looking for ways to stay where they feel safe, comfortable, and in control.
Because for most people, this isn’t really about care settings. It’s about something much more personal.
It’s about waking up in your own bed.
Having a cup of tea in your own kitchen.
Being surrounded by familiar things, and the people who matter most.
Staying at home means maintaining a sense of normality at a time when everything else can feel uncertain.
For families, these decisions often come during difficult moments. It can feel overwhelming, and sometimes the quickest solution becomes the default. But taking a step back to ask what someone truly wants can change everything.
With the right support, staying at home is not only possible – it can be the most reassuring and dignified option.
At Just Live-in Care, we support families who want to make that possible. Providing one-to-one care in the home allows people to continue living their life, in their space, with the support they need around them.
If you’re starting to think about care, or finding yourself needing to make a decision, it’s worth having that conversation early.
Because the question isn’t just what care is needed.
It’s where someone wants to live – and how you can help them stay there.
Speak to our team
If you’d like to understand how live-in care could support you or a loved one, we’re here to help.
Call us for a friendly, no-obligation chat: 0333 188 2244
References
Office for National Statistics – National Bereavement Survey (VOICES)
UK Government – Palliative and End of Life Care Profiles (2025 update)
Just Group Research – Attitudes to Care Homes (2023)