Across Wales, thousands of families are facing one of the most emotional and important decisions of later life: how best to care for an ageing loved one. For decades, residential care homes were the default option when an older person needed the type of support that the family couldn’t provide. Today, however, that picture is changing.
An increasing number of people in Wales are now receiving care in their own homes through hourly home care visits, domiciliary care services or full-time live-in care arrangements. This shift reflects not only changing personal preferences, but also a growing recognition that many elderly people can continue living safely, happily and independently at home for much longer than was once thought possible.
That means the Welsh care system is evolving so that home-based care is becoming a accepted alternative to a care home.
A Growing Older Population in Wales
Wales has one of the oldest populations in the UK. As life expectancy continues to rise, demand for elderly care services is increasing year by year. Rural communities and coastal towns across Wales are seeing particularly high numbers of older residents who require support with daily living, mobility, dementia care and other conditions.
At the same time, many families are becoming more aware of the emotional impact that moving into residential care can have on older people. Leaving behind a familiar home is deeply unsettling, especially for older people with declining health.
This is one reason why professional care services delivered in the home has grown significantly across Wales.
How Many People in Wales Receive Care at Home?
The most recent Welsh Government and Care Inspectorate Wales figures show that home-based care now supports substantially more people than traditional residential care settings.
As of March 2025, Care Inspectorate Wales reported that approximately 34,186 adults in Wales were being supported by domiciliary care services. These services include home visits for assistance with washing, dressing, meals, medication, mobility and day-to-day living support.
By comparison:
- around 10,376 adults were supported in residential care homes without nursing care
- approximately 10,094 adults were living in nursing homes with nursing support available on-site
In simple terms, significantly more people in Wales now receive care in their own homes than in residential or nursing care facilities combined.
Welsh Government data also shows that most adults receiving ongoing care and support continue to live in their own homes. Government statistics show:
- 69.2% of adults receiving care and support in Wales were living in their own homes
- only 30.7% were living in residential care homes or supported accommodation on a long-term basis
These figures reflect a major shift in how elderly care is being delivered across Wales.
Why Families Are Reconsidering Residential Care
Residential care homes continue to play an essential role within Welsh social care, particularly for people with very advanced nursing needs or those requiring specialist supervision. However, many families are now exploring alternatives before making the decision to move a loved one into permanent residential accommodation.
There are several reasons for this change.
Familiarity and Emotional Wellbeing
Remaining at home can provide enormous emotional benefits for elderly people. Familiar surroundings often reduce confusion, stress, and anxiety particularly for those living with dementia. Older people also retain a greater sense of dignity and independence.
Greater Personal Choice
Care at home is highly personalised. Support can often be adapted around the individual’s preferences, routines, dietary choices, hobbies and lifestyle. Unlike residential care settings, where staffing must be shared among many residents, home care is centred entirely around one person’s needs.
Independence and Community Connection
Many older adults in Wales value remaining part of their local community. Staying at home enables continued contact with neighbours, friends, churches, clubs and familiar places. This social continuity can have a significant positive effect on mental wellbeing.
Financial Considerations
Residential care can be extremely expensive, especially for self-funding families. Some Welsh families are increasingly finding that home care, particularly when introduced earlier, can be a more flexible and cost-effective solution.
The Welsh Government’s Focus on Care at Home
Policy across Wales increasingly supports helping people remain independent at home wherever possible.
The social care system in Wales has placed growing emphasis on:
- preventative support
- reablement services
- community-based care
- reducing unnecessary hospital admissions
- delaying entry into residential care where appropriate
This reflects a wider recognition that many people achieve better quality-of-life outcomes when supported in their own homes.
Challenges Facing the Welsh Care Sector
Despite the positive growth of home care services, the Welsh care sector continues to face challenges such as staff shortages, rising operational costs, increasing demand from an ageing population and pressure on local authority budgets.
A Different Future for Elderly Care
For many years, moving into a care home was viewed as an inevitable part of growing older. Today, that assumption is being challenged. Advances in professional home care now allow many elderly people in Wales to remain safely and comfortably in their own homes for far longer than previous generations could have imagined.
While residential care remains vital for some people, it is no longer the only realistic, or most cost-effective, option.
