Increasing challenges to healthcare come from over-85 age group

Health services need to adapt to suit the growing challenges of the over 85 age group, if the UK is to effectively meet the needs of an ageing populace, according to new statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

Researching the health requirements of adults over 65 in England, the HSCIC results confirm that complications increase significantly once adults enter the over-85 age group, suggesting that reaching ‘old age’ now occurs later than society may have previously viewed.

With people aged 85 or over now accounting for 1 in 44 of the population, the results of ‘Focus on the Health and Care of Older People’ show that over the last 20 years the number of hospital day cases has decreased for all age groups except this one; that 77 per cent of people from this age group accessed one of inpatient, outpatient or A&E services in 2012–13, compared to 65 per cent aged between 65–85; and that two in three of these admissions were through emergency channels, compared to one in three for those aged 65–85.

HSCIC lead clinician Martin Severs comments: “Today’s report gives fresh insight, with original analysis, into the typical profile of an older person in England today. By looking at change over time our report provides a broad understanding of an ageing population and the implications this group may have for health and care services.

“As a geriatrician for almost 30 years I have seen huge changes in the health and care of older people and health and care activity for this group. We hope that a better understanding of the ageing population could help shape a better future for this group.”