The survey obtained the preferences of 3,000 people aged between 45-75, who may or may not already be living in a care home or retirement living accommodation across the UK. The survey also found there was a desire for personalised food options, human interaction and freshly prepared meals.
This marks a shift from a previous survey carried out by Caterplus in 2018, when 63% of respondents expected future care interactions to be primarily human-led rather than tech-led. That expectation has increased, with a clear demand by 95% of respondents for care to be delivered by people with technology playing a supportive rather than dominant role.
Caterplus bolsters its care offers with digital enhancements such as Bellabot robots that help to deliver food trays and clear tables, a digital ordering app that reflects a growing need for convenience from residents and Mobi Magic Tables that turn any surface into a sensory experience with over 150 interactive activities.
Michal Seal, managing director of Caterplus, said: “This survey has provided us with invaluable insight into what current and future residents in care homes and retirement living accommodation desire in relation to catering and other services.
“As the market leader, we feel a sense of responsibility to bring improvements to the way we care for and feed residents - the survey was an important step in achieving these ambitions as well as helping maintain our excellent service.
“We believe that food should be more than mere sustenance and should be a daily pleasure that is nourishing and plays an important role in fostering community. We recognise the importance of technology to enhance the care we provide and we also view it as a way to provide a better service, but not to replace critical human interaction."
Key survey findings:
- Demand for personal dining options: 90% of respondents want a personalised dining experience.
- Sustainability remains a priority: Over 50% of respondents expect sustainable practices.
- Generational differences in food preferences: While 35% of respondents aged 65-75 favour traditional British dishes, only 17% of younger respondents aged between 45 and 54 share this preference.
- Beverage and snack preferences: Tea continues to be the top drink of choice for 60% of respondents while fruit and biscuits rank as the top two preferred snacks.