Saturday February 14th 2026
Si King
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Leading home provider Bluebird Care East and Midlothian is backing a national call for earlier conversations about care after new research from Bluebird Care revealed that the majority of people have no plan in place for how they will be cared for later in life.
Bluebird Care East and Midlothian, which supports people to remain independent in their own homes, is taking part in a new awareness campaign highlighting how unprepared many families are for the realities and costs of care and encouraging people to start thinking about their options sooner rather than later.
The campaign is fronted by broadcaster Si King, who has spoken openly about his own experiences of care after his mother lived with Alzheimer’s disease and through supporting his close friend and fellow Hairy Biker Dave Myers during his serious illness.
New nationally representative research commissioned by Bluebird Care found that 65% of adults in the UK have no plan in place for their future care, with almost half (48%) saying they don’t know where to start. Nearly a quarter (23%) expect they may need to sell their home to cover care costs, which are estimated to average around £200,000 per person over a lifetime.
Despite this, the research shows that people’s preferences are clear. Almost three-quarters (73%) say they would rather remain in their own home or with family than move into a care home, something local care teams see reflected every day.
Speaking about the importance of planning ahead, Si King said:
“Care is something most of us avoid thinking about until life forces the conversation. I’ve seen first-hand how quickly everything can change, and how little we often understand about care until we’re right in the middle of it.
“I’m proud to be working with Bluebird Care to help people start talking earlier, understand their options, and keep living on their own terms for as long as possible.”
As part of the campaign, Bluebird Care has launched free practical resources, including its Good Care Checklist, designed to help families understand what good care should look like and how to navigate the system with confidence.
You can read more here: www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/the-good-care-guide
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