Average length of stay in a care home has decreased to around 13 months, compared with 1.8 years before the pandemic and 2.2 years in 2011, according to figures quoted by the Downing investment company.
The company states that the sector is changing because the needs of those moving into care are increasingly acute. Mark Gross, Downing’s head of development capital, says: “We are seeing the nature of care provided fundamentally alter. We expect to see heightened demand for modern purpose-built facilities that can deliver nursing, dementia and end of life care. However, we believe older style purpose-built facilities that are capable of refurbishment and can sit towards the top end of their local market should not be overlooked.”