30th September, 2022
Capstone are delighted to be working with Rest Less to encourage those over the age of 50 to consider a fostering career.
Many people over the age of 50 experience feelings of loneliness when their own children fly the nest.
Fostering with Capstone can be the perfect way to bring the heart back into your home.
Absolutely not true! Despite what you may think, there is no upper age limit as to who can foster. Anyone over the age of 21 may be eligible, and here at Capstone we have foster carers who are in their 80’s, still very active and looking after our young people.
In fact, your life experience as an older carer can be invaluable, that knowledge and patience is perfect to support and guide a young person who is just starting to make their way in life. Fostering is an opportunity to nurture and grow.
Some of our foster children have enjoyed being fostered by older adults, and this matching can be very successful. Some children have never experienced relationships with grandparents, and they gain a lot from an older adults outlook.
The short answer to that is no. Fostering a child will not affect your pension as your fostering allowance is not classed as an income. Therefore, the allowance is 100% focused on the support and wellbeing of that child.
Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance, depending on the needs of the child from £400 for standard placements up to £575 for therapeutic placements. Capstone, being an independent agency means that our rates are competitive.
Your own children flying the nest can leave you with mixed emotions, the house feels empty but now you have time on your hands to focus on hobbies. You are nearing retirement, but do you really want to start again now?
All we can say is that now is a perfect time to consider fostering. That time that you have dedicated to a career is coming to a close, and a new chapter can begin – one with a renewed sense of purpose. That time that you have to pursue, can be time spent with a child. Often children in care have not had opportunities to learn essential life skills. Is gardening your passion, share that past time with a child and watch them grow.
While your child is at school, you will still have that important time for yourself.
Fostering is one of the most rewarding things you can do. The going isn’t always easy but being able to offer a secure and stable place to call home is a feeling like no other.
As an older adult to be able to open your home to a vulnerable child, enabling them to feel the benefits of your life’s work. It can give them space to relax, to grow, and to break the cycle. Here at Capstone we believe in truly investing in the future of our young people and that is what our Capstone Care Leavers Trust is all about.
Some of our care leavers have gone on to wonderful things with the assistance of the Trust and the ongoing support of their foster carers, from conservation university degrees to setting up charities to support those in care.
The choice to foster goes a long way and makes a huge difference to the lives of those in care.
If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Capstone, fill out the form below.
An experienced fostering advisor from your local area will then be in touch.
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Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you.
