Audit Commission

The Audit Commission's new report, Don't stop me now – Preparing for an ageing population, published today (17 July) has found that councils in England, particularly those which have the fastest ageing populations, are not ready to meet the challenges or grasp opportunities as we get older.

Although the government's 2005 strategy for older people, Opportunity Age, has the potential to improve the lives of an ageing population, so far it hasn't delivered those benefits to older people across the country, the report finds. Read the Don't stop me now report in full.

The report asked older 'mystery shoppers to identify the everyday challenges they face in accessing council services. They approached 49 councils asking a series of questions and found that most councils need to improve the way they provide information in key areas such as volunteering, leisure and social activities, learning opportunities and transport.

Older people, defined by government as the over-50s, will make up more than one in three of the population by 2009, but the report reveals that most council services focus on the minority who require social care, excluding the invisible majority who may end up isolated and vulnerable if ignored.

Michael O'Higgins, Chairman of the Audit Commission, said:
'By 2029 nearly 40 per cent of England's population will be over 50. These are active people, anxious to stay independent as long as possible. Despite the stereotypes, only 3 per cent of people aged between 65 and 80 live in residential care. But it's worrying that the councils in areas with the most over 50s are the least prepared to cope with their long-term needs and interests. Ex-punk rockers and Rolling Stones fans are not going to be happy with a cup of tea and daytime TV. As people live longer, those who can help them stay well and independent, need to be a little more imaginative. There will be different opportunities in different areas, but there has already been innovative action from some forward-thinking councils. Penwith, Dudley and Blackpool have produced a variety of solutions such as special home safety checks, a falls prevention programme and even a radio station set up and run by older people. All are in place as age-proofing' measures to prevent social isolation and support independent living without incurring great expense.'

England's ageing population – facts and myth-busting

• England's population is ageing and the trend is accelerating. In 2009 around 17.7 million people (34 per cent of the population) will be aged 50 or over; by 2029 it will have increased by more than a quarter to 22.9 million, so 40 per cent of people will be aged 50 or over.
• In 2009 there will be 2.4 million people in England aged 80 or over; by 2029 the figure will be 4.3 million.
• Three-quarters of people aged over 65 voted in the 2005 General Election.

The report says government should show clearer national leadership and work with councils to provide guidance and evaluate progress. Councils can prepare for an ageing population by making better use of information, reviewing demographic profiles and using local knowledge to target money and services effectively. They should also improve evaluation by testing local satisfaction and experience to assess age-proofing of services.

CASE STUDIES

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. This study was conducted between July 2007 and February 2008. There were five main elements to the research:

• Literature review: an academic review was conducted, which was supplemented by an in-house review.

• An analysis of 111 Audit Commission corporate assessment reports, published between 2005 and 2008.

• Interviews at, and assessments of, documentary evidence from ten case study authorities. The case study authorities represent a range of types of authority, performance and current percentage of the over 50 population. Visits to each authority took place over three days. A total of 235 interviews were conducted. Interviews were held with key officers (including the chief executive and the finance director) and key elected members.

• A mystery shopper survey of 49 councils, conducted by four older researchers. The older researchers used a common scenario to test how well councils were able to direct older people to a range of services. The services tested were leisure and social opportunities, employment and volunteering, learning opportunities and transport options.

• 15 Focus Groups with 175 older people in ten areas. Five of the focus groups were focused on five seldom heard groups. The seldom heard groups represented: older carers; people 50+ people on low incomes; people 85 and over; people 65 and over and in work; and older people with long-term physical or mental health problems.

2. In addition to Penwith, Dudley and Blackpool, councils in Manchester, Knowsley, North Somerset, Camden, Nottinghamshire and Hartlepool feature in the report, with examples of age-proofing solutions that have made a difference locally.

3. Don't stop me now follows the Audit Commission's Tomorrow's people report, which examined the potential impact of an ageing council workforce across England, combined with the growing needs of an ageing population.