Growing old in the UK

The demographic transition in all advanced economies, including the UK, has been recognised for some time and has been accompanied by concerns about the potential demand for health and social care (Raymond et al, 2021). It is estimated that in the next 25 years, there will be 2.6 million people in England over the age of 85 years (Raymond et al, 2021), which is dwarfed by the global numbers of those expected to live beyond their 60th birthday. Globally, it is predicted that by 2050 there will be 2.1 billion people aged 60 years or over, with those aged 80 years or older reaching 426 million by 2050 (World Health Organization (WHO), 2021).

These data should be a cause for celebration as they indicate the success of medical advances and improved living standards upon population health, enabling many people to remain healthy and to live independently later in life. Older people also contribute to societies and economies through continued employment, informal caring of grandchildren and other relatives, and voluntary work. Raymond et al (2021) explored the relationship between age, and health and social care needs to reveal that the relationship between age and needs in England have changed over time. While health and care needs increase with age, many people with long term conditions live independently in the community without experiencing activities of daily life (ADL) limitations well into their 80s. Although Raymond et al (2021) found that a third of those with no ADL limitations had two or more long term conditions, all those with ADL limitations invariably had at least one long term condition and those with neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia) had greater ADL limitations with increasingly complex social care needs.