New Preventative Services Report
10.09.2009
In the UK it is forecast that the percentage of over 65’s will rise from 16% in 2006 to
22% in the year 2031 and by 2029 the over 50’s will account for 39% of the population
(Audit commission, 2008).The fastest growing age group are the over 80’s and
this age group has also increased from 2.5 % to 4.5 % over the last 25 years (Office
for National Statistics, 2007). However, gains in life expectancy have not been fully
matched by gains in healthy life expectancy (Health Profile of England, 2007).
The need for improved health and social care continues to increase as the United
Kingdom’s population ages and patterns of lifestyle and disease change. For example,
the incidence of long-term physical conditions which affects day-to-day functionality
such as strokes, heart attacks and Type II diabetes is growing (Wanless et al.,
2007; Darzi, 2008). Furthermore, connected to physical deterioration is the increased
risk of later life depression with adverse consequences to the individual,
family and society and consequently increasing the need for professional support in
future years (Evans et al.,2003). Read more in our Report "Preventative Services - Valuing Local Older Peoples Services.
Download Report