Survey finds a small number of older people in the UK have a good quality of life
- 04 Mar
A survey has found that the UK is not planning properly for the number of people living longer and is failing to harness older people's skills.
An ageing population survey, undertaken by the Guardian, has found that only 26% of respondents felt that older people in the UK have a good quality of life. This is compared with 45% of people who don't, and just 28% of people felt their standard of living was good in financial terms with 46% disagreeing.
The survey consisted of 1,250 participants which included carers, professionals who work with older people and older people themselves. Half of the participants said that the outlook for older people had gotten worse over the last year.
A total of 86% and 92% respectively don't feel the NHS and social care are adequately funded. "As the age of the population increases, the strains this places on public services will mean more people needing access to fewer services and without adequate support services people's quality of life will deteriorate," said one respondent, reports the Guardian.
According to Age UK, nearly 900,000 older people now have unmet needs for social care. "You've got a whole substantial group being left to struggle on alone, which seems like a false economy," says Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK. "Without being given early help, people are more likely to develop chronic needs and to need more intensive support, at a greater cost to taxpayers."
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Related articles
- 01 Sep
Older people need more male carers
Professor Martin Green has said that the government needs to do more to recruit males into front-line adult social care roles, reports the BBC.Prof Green has said that with the increasing number of...
- 25 Aug
Survey finds older people have better quality of life in retirement villages than care homes
Chief executive of Audley Retirement, Nick Sanderson, has said that demand for his form of extra-care housing was so strong he could not build homes fast enough, reports the Guardian.He said: “I...
- 12 Aug
Older people’s Commissioner disappointed by Welsh Government
Sarah Rochira, Wale’s Commissioner for older people has said she is “extremely disappointed” at the response from the Welsh Government to its call for action to protect residents in care homes,...
- 31 Jul
Charity warns of loneliness in older people
The Campaign to End Loneliness charity want a “range of support” for older people to help them fight loneliness, reports the BBC. The charity says that transport and technology are essential to...
- 27 Jul
New housing for older people promised
Members of Kensington and Chelsea’s cabinet have decided to create 150 new homes for older people on the site of a care home that closed down in 2014 due to Legionella, reports Get West...
- 22 Jul
New drug provides hope for older people with Parkinsons
Scientists have found that people taking glitazone pills were less likely to develop Parkinson’s than people taking other diabetes drugs. However, they have cautioned that the drugs could have...
- 15 Jul
Lack in dignity when caring for older people in hospital
In a poll from 2012 it has been found that poor care is most likely to be experienced by people over the age of 80, reports the BBC. Over a third of patients who need help at mealtimes did not...
- 09 Jul
New housing development for older people in Sunderland
A 16.3m housing and care scheme has been opened by the Leader of Sunderland Council, reports Sunderland Echo.The accommodation provides 158 two-bedroom apartments for older people and 17 one bed...
- 07 Jul
Social care cuts leaving older people stranded
Age UK is calling on Chancellor George Osborne to put an end to cuts to social care funding due to the increasing rate the older population is growing, reports the Yorkshire Post. Age UK has...
- 01 Jul
Charity wants priority for older people in housing
Erosh represents organisation providing housing and support to 120,000 older people and has written to new government ministers in opposition, reports Inside Housing.The letter calls on ministers to...
How to Fund Housing Support and Social Care Services Good clear delivery of some complicated information. Jaqui Smith - Young Womens Housing Project
