Social care for older adults
This report examines the need for and receipt of social care among adults aged 65 and over in England in 2016. It compares different population groups by age, sex, region, income and area deprivation.
Highlights
Among adults aged 65 and over in England:
- 24% of men and 31% of women needed help with at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL), and 22% and 32% respectively needed help with at least one Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL).
- 20% of men and 27% of women had some unmet need with at least one ADL, and 12% and 16% respectively had some unmet need with at least one IADL.
- Men (33%) and women (42%) in the most deprived areas were around twice as likely to have unmet need for at least one ADL compared with men and women in the least deprived areas (15% of men and 22% of women).
- Most adults who had received help for ADLs in the past month, had received this from unpaid helpers only (65%). Three quarters of adults had received help with IADLs from unpaid helpers only (74%).
- Among adults with some need for help and support with ADLs and/or IADLs, a minority (19%) had received a local authority assessment of care needs in the last 12 months.