Stephen Lowe: Taking care to plan for a better future

Financial stability and security are key personal goals for later life so it is ironic - and worrying - that the care homes market appears so fragile and unstable. Four Seasons Health Care Group, which has more than 300 care homes in the UK, recently fell into administration, joining three other major care home operators that have put themselves up for sale in the last year. This is a diverse sector with a mix of large and small providers, both commercial and ‘not for profit' all competing for business. Yet many in the sector are feeling the squeeze from a combination of tighter regulati...