Professor Gillian Parker Tel. The proportion of frail, elderly people in the population who are likely to need social care has risen sharply over recent years and will increase further into the next century.
Government policy emphasizes individual and family responsibility for the provision of such care.
The trend towards a reduction in family size together with the continued movement of women into paid employment may limit the supply of voluntary care through the family. Individuals will be increasingly expected to provide for their own care should they be unable to look after themselves in old age. However, little is known about people's attitudes towards saving or insuring for their own care, or indeed their ability to do so. This project will provide information about both these areas. The research will be carried out in two stages.