Social care: need and receipt
This chapter presents information about the need for and receipt of social care among adults aged 65 and over.
Highlights
Most of the chapter is based on Health Survey for England 2014 data. Where bases are too small for robust analysis, 2013 and 2014 data have been combined.
- Participants aged 65 and over were asked whether they needed help with a list of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). ADLs are activities relating to personal care and mobility about the home, and IADLs are further activities important to living independently.
- 24% of men and 33% of women aged 65 and over needed help with at least one ADL, and 21% and 34% respectively needed help with at least one IADL.
- Overall, 11% of men and 13% of women aged 65 and over had received help with at least one ADL in the last month, and 14% and 26% respectively had received help with at least one IADL.
- The need for help increased with age. 13% of men and 21% of women aged 65-69 needed help with ADLs, compared with 46% and 59% respectively aged 85 and over.
- Receipt of help, although at a lower level than need, also increased with age. 6% of men and 9% of women aged 65-69 received help with ADLs in the last month, compared with 26% of both sexes aged 85 and over.
- 21% of men and 29% of women aged 65 and over had some need with at least one ADL that was not met, and 13% and 18% respectively had some unmet need with at least one IADL.
- Among people who had received help with ADLs in the last month, 82% of men and 75% of women had received this solely from unpaid helpers, including relatives, friends and neighbours. The picture was similar for IADLs.