Older Northerners Face Alarming Inequalities

The findings are from the Ageing in the North study, from the Northern Health Science Alliance, which includes Durham researchers.

The findings

The report's main findings include:

• There are nearly one million economically inactive 50-64-year-olds in the North, contributing to a potential reduction in GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of £10.9 billion per year.
• People in the South are more likely to retire, while those in the North are more likely to leave the job market due to poor health.
• Older people living in North East England 1.61 times more likely to be frail, 1.16 times more likely to have a fall that requires hospital treatment, and 1.14 times more likely to have a hip fracture compared the older people in South East England.
• The cost to the NHS of falls and hip fractures in the North is £55.7 million and £258.8 million per year respectively.
• 47 million northern homes are considered non-decent, with over a third housing over-60s residents. This is costing the NHS approximately £588 million per year.

What can be done

The report makes a series of recommendations including:

• Adopting a cross-government approach to prevent unequal ageing, looking at themes such as education, housing, employment and health.
• Strengthening place-based collaboration between local government, combined authorities, housing developers, the NHS, and older adult.
• Developing and delivering a national housing strategy for older people that prioritises ageing in place and invests in age-friendly, accessible homes.
• Significantly increasing investment in adult social care in the North of England
• Developing an NHS-led, UK-wide strategy to address physical inactivity as a key driver of later-life health inequalities.