This summary report uses the most up-to-date national data available to paint a picture of ageing in England today.
Our population is ageing rapidly, and the number of people at risk is growing at an alarming rate.
Across England today – depending on where we live and how well-off we are – there are differences of up to ten years in how long we can expect to live and more than 17 years in the time we get in good health without a disabling illness.
The latest data also shows a sharp increase in pensioner poverty, meaning that almost 1 in 5 people of pension age, are now living in poverty.
The State of Ageing 2022 looks at data from a wide range of sources such as the English Housing Survey, the GP Patient survey, the Health Survey for England and the Community Life Survey, as well as a host of official statistics like the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Ultimately it shows that the experience of being older in England is getting considerably worse for many. The data demonstrates the huge challenges facing the government’s levelling up ambitions to reduce inequalities across England as well as its stated commitment to increase healthy life expectancy by five years.
Our overall recommendation is that government appoints an Older People’s Commissioner for England to protect and promote the rights of older people and to help make England a better place to grow old in.
