A report co-authored by Lancaster University reveals that older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely and in poor housing.
The report from the Northern Health Science Alliance entitled "Ageing in the North catalogues an "alarming" range of disadvantages faced by older people living in the North, in areas such as health, life expectancy, housing, nutrition, employment, and social isolation.
The authors stress that this inequality is mainly driven by economic and social factors and is "totally reversible" - as long as policymakers are bold enough to act. For example, targeted investment has the potential to reduce or recover as much as £10.9 billion in lost productivity costs, £315 million in NHS costs from falls and hip fractures, and £588 million in NHS costs from treating conditions resulting from poor housing.
The report is published by the Northern Health Science Alliance's Ageing North network including Lancaster University, Durham University, the University of Manchester, Newcastle University, the University of Sheffield and Health Equity North.
Researchers analysed existing data through a regional lens to examine the different ways in which ageing is experienced across England. They explored issues such as poverty and employment, health expectancies, long-term chronic conditions, frailty and falls, physical activity, nutrition, dementia and cognitive frailty, social support and unpaid care, social isolation and loneliness, housing and ethnicity.
Lancaster University authors Carol Holland, Heather Brown, Faraz Ahmed, Daniel Clarkson, Qian Xiong and Caroline Swarbrick contributed to three chapters in the report; Dementia and Cognitive Frailty; Social Isolation and Loneliness and Ethnicity.
Professor Carol Holland, the Director of Lancaster University's Centre for Ageing Research, said: "Unequal ageing is not inevitable. The gulf between North and South has been created and exacerbated by long-term national policies. And it can be reversed in the same way. The evidence presented in this report does not merely highlight all the ways that people experience ageing differently in the North and South. It offers a clear call to action, to make it a national priority to address this inequality - and vastly improve the lives of millions. We know a lot about prevention and risk reduction of later life difficulties such as frailty or cognitive impairment: it is not enough to claim that nothing can be done. It is time to be bold and do better."
Hannah Davies, Chief Executive of the Northern Health Science Alliance and Executive Director of Health Equity North said: "The North is a beautiful place to grow old. We have some of the most breathtaking scenery in the country, as well as welcoming and tight-knit communities. And yet, the day-to-day reality of ageing for many northerners is far harder than it should be.
"We have often talked about the inequalities that exist in the North, and this report is a reminder of why the gap between North and South continues to widen. There is clear evidence of this on so many fronts - from poverty levels to housing quality, frailty, nutrition, and social support. The divide is particularly pronounced amongst older adults from diverse ethnic backgrounds, which highlights the need for culturally-sensitive solutions which recognise community needs.
"It is undeniable that we need to offer urgent help to older people who are dealing with these issues. It is also our responsibility to make sure that future generations do not have to go through the same challenges - with targeted, considered policies that address the lifelong issues that are so familiar to northern citizens."
The report is being launched at an event in Westminster today hosted by MP for Shipley, Anna Dixon, who wrote the Foreword.
Anna Dixon, Member of Parliament for Shipley, said: "Where you live shouldn't affect your experience of ageing. This report brings into sharp focus the reality of how unequal ageing is across England. If we want to create a society that supports everyone to live and age better, we need to tackle the wider societal issues that result in some people in some communities dying earlier and living longer in poor health. This needs a life course approach, from childhood to adulthood, that enables people to remain active, stay healthy and contribute to society for as long as possible."
The report - which you can read in full here - states that:
● There are an estimated 904,200 economically inactive 50-64 year olds in the North: 170,100 in the north east, 428,600 in the north west, and 305,500 in Yorkshire and the Humber, contributing to a potential reduction in GDP of £10.9 billion per year
● People from 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 the north east and north west are 1.61 and 1.33 times, respectively, more likely to be frail, 1.16 and 1.06 times more likely to have a fall that requires hospital treatment, and 1.14 and 1.12 times more likely to have a hip fracture compared to older people living in the south east
● 1.47 million northern homes are considered non-decent, with over a third housing over-60s residents. This is costing the NHS approximately £588 million in treatment per year
● People aged 65 or over are 5% more likely to be deprived in the North (68%) than in the South (63%)
● There is a two-year life expectancy gap between the North and the rest of England, with premature death rates 20% higher for those in the North
● Cognitive frailty (cognitive impairment plus physical frailty) in old age is more common in the North than in the South, with 11.8% living with cognitive frailty in the north east compared to 7% in the south east.
● Older adults in the North are 23.3% more likely to experience loneliness compared to the South, with northern women 1.55 times more likely to be lonely than men
● Minoritised ethnic groups consistently report poorer self-rated health than White British peers. Self-rated health is generally poorer in the North than in London and the South.
Leading academics behind the report are now calling on the Government to recognise the challenges faced by people in later life and to prioritise tackling the root causes of unequal ageing. The report includes evidence-based policy recommendations, which could go a long way to reversing the widening inequality gap between North and South.
