Ageing well

Updated: 01/02/2023

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Background

The population of England is steadily ageing and there is also variation in the way people age. The government has outlined an ‘Ageing Grand Challenge’ mission to “Ensure that people can enjoy at least 5 extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest”. There is also a need to ensure that people can live well with long-term health conditions as they age, and that they can be provided with enhanced care and support when required. (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Public health profiles. 2023)

This section outlines the key indicators that Bolton refers to, to improve the health and wellbeing of older people and make sure Bolton is a place where people can age well.

The Bolton picture

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An ageing population

On Census day 2021, 29% of the Bolton population (86,200 people) were aged 55+; 12% were aged 70+ (36,900 people). The number of older adults is predicted to increase in the coming years. See the Population section for more about the overall population makeup and how it is predicted to change.

Dementia

Dementia is a progressive neurological condition. It occurs when the brain is damaged by diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease) or by a series of strokes. The symptoms of dementia can include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving, language and physical function. There are lots of things we can do to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families and friends.

An in depth piece of work looking at dementia in Bolton was completed early 2024, the outputs from this are now avaialble below.

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Falls

  • Falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide
  • Older people have the highest risk of falling with 30% of people aged 65 and over and 50% of people aged 80 and over falling at least once a year
  • Approximately 5-10 % of falls in older people result in serious injury or hospitalisation
  • After a fall, an older person has a 50 per cent probability of having their mobility seriously impaired and a 10 per cent probability of dying within a year
  • Falls are complex and multifactorial – the result of the interplay of multiple factors
  • Even minor falls can have major psychological impact leading to lower levels of confidence, independence and increased isolation and depression
  • 20% of hip fracture patients entered long-term care in the first year after fracture
  • Over 240,000 falls in acute hospitals and mental health trusts in England and Wales each year

Bolton has 9 recommendations for reducing falls and harm from falls among older people. Find out more in the full document which you can find below.

  1. To build on the work done by the falls collaborative in bringing together partners
  2. Universal promotion of older people in physical activity programmes and in falls prevention programmes
  3. Routine questioning by GPs, healthcare professionals and all individuals in contact with older adults
  4. Older people who presents for medical attention because of a fall, or recurrent falls in the past year or with gait and/or balance abnormalities should be offered a multifactorial falls risk assessment
  5. The development of a Facture Liaison Service
  6. Conduct regular medication reviews for in-patients and individuals in contact with primary care and community health services
  7. Proactive case finding through data held within the GM Care Record
  8. Education and Information
  9. Expanding use and scope of telehealth as a way of providing health care monitoring at a distance rather than face to face

The Bolton picture

Income Deprivation Affecting Older People (IDAOP)

The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) is an overall relative measure of deprivation constructed by combining seven domains of deprivation according to their respective weights.

The Income Deprivation Affecting Older People Index (IDAOPI) measures the proportion of all those aged 60 or over who experience income deprivation. It is a subset of the Income Deprivation Domain which measures the proportion of the population in an area experiencing deprivation relating to low income. The definition of low income used includes both those people that are out-of-work, and those that are in work but who have low earnings (and who satisfy the respective means tests).

The map below shows the LSOA's in Bolton and their relative income deprivation affecting older people decile rank within England.