More than 8 out of 10 French people would prefer to grow old at home
85% of French people would prefer to grow old in the comfort of their own homes rather than move into a care facility.
As the “Ma Prime Adapt” program is set to take effect, highlighting the crucial choice of home care for our seniors, data from a 2019 Ifop survey reveals that 85% of French people hope to grow old in the comfort of their own homes rather than move into a nursing home. Despite persistent criticism of nursing homes (Ehpad), the fact remains undeniable: the number of residents is increasing year after year.
As of December 31, 2019, no fewer than 594,700 elderly people were residing in nursing homes, and this number continues to grow. According to the 2021 Nursing Home Overview compiled by Uni Santé, the 7,353 French facilities as of November 2022 had a total of 595,982 beds, with rates ranging from less than 1,800 euros in the Meuse department to 3,886 euros in Paris.
The latest Silver Alliance survey, conducted in collaboration with Retraite.com and released on November 28, reveals a rise in the cost of home care for older adults in 2023, keeping pace with inflation. Expenses related to care and personal assistance thus rose by 4.5% over the course of a year, corresponding to the 4% inflation rate reported by INSEE in October. In addition to costs related to housing and daily living, older adults spend an average of 1,216 euros per month on health care, home modifications, and in-home care services. This budget varies by age group, reaching up to 2,070 euros per month for those aged 85 and older.
Healthcare ranks as the top expense for seniors, with a notable increase in costs related to supplemental health insurance, reaching up to 234 euros per month for those aged 85 and older. Long-term care costs account for nearly 50% of the budget for in-home care for this age group, covering various home care services and overnight care.
Since the first edition of the Silver Alliance survey in 2020, the cost of home care has risen by nearly 17%.
This increase is partly due to the fact that retirees' incomes are not rising at the same rate as their expenses. However, the planned 5.3% increase in basic pensions effective January 1 should provide some financial relief to seniors.
In addition, Ma Prime Adapt, which will also take effect on January 1, 2024, will provide additional financial support to retirees to adapt their homes to meet their care needs and thus delay their move into a nursing home. Administered by the National Housing Agency (Anah), this ambitious initiative aims to adapt 680,000 homes by 2032. While nearly 75% of those over 70 currently own their homes, the housing crisis could nevertheless have a substantial impact on the budgets of future retirees who will not yet have retired within the next fifteen years.
