The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are currently over 750,000 people in the UK with dementia, of which only 18,000 are aged under 65. (31)

In 2004, in England and Wales, the deaths of 70 people aged 65 and over involved hypothermia as the underlying cause, according to their death certificates. (32)

In the winter of 2004/2005, 28,700 people over the age of 65 died as a result of the cold in England and Wales.

Excess winter mortality is defined as deaths occurring in December-March minus the average of the deaths in the preceding August to November and the following April to July. (33)

In 2002, 19% of all accidents within the home involved people aged 65 and over. (34)
(GB) In 2004, of 671 pedestrian fatalities on the road, 266 (39.6%) were people aged 60
and over. (35)

Health and Social Care Services

(GB) In 2003, in a three-month period, 24% of those aged 75 and over had attended the
casualty or out-patient department of a hospital, compared with 14% of people of all ages.

In 2003, of those admitted to hospital in the previous 12 months, the average stay was 8
nights. However, those aged 75 and over spent, on average, 14 nights. (36)

(GB) In 2003, 86% of NHS GP consultations took place in the surgery. Consultations at home were most likely for older people, with 11% of consultations for those aged 75 and over being at home. (37)

In England, from 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005, 319,000 clients over the age of 65 received home help or home care services, 100,000 received day care and 110,000 received meals. (figures relate to services provided or commissioned by CSSRs). (38)

In England and Wales, in 2001, 342,032 people aged 65 and over provided 50 hours or more of unpaid care per week. (39)

Sources of data used

(30) GHS, op cit, table 7.2 (Trends in self-reported sickness by sex and age...).
(31) Facts about dementia: statistics, Alzheimer’s Society at http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Facts_about_dementia/statistics/index.htm (02/02/2006).
(32) Mortality statistics: cause, England and Wales, 2004, National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2005, table 3 (Deaths by injury, poisoning and other consequences of external causes: sex and agegroup, 2004).
(33) Excess winter mortality – by age group and region,National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2006, http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=7089&Pos=1&ColRank=28Rank=1000,
table (Excess winter deaths by age group and Government Office Region of usual residence,
1991/1992-2003/2004 and 2004/2005 – provisional) (23/03/06).
(34) 24th (final) report of the Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance System 2000, 2001 and
2002 data, Department of Trade and Industry, HASS table 4 (Location of accident within the
home by age). Also available on the Home and Leisure Accident Surveillance web database at http://www.hassandlass.org.uk/.
(35) Road casualties Great Britain 2004: annual report, Department for Transport © Crown
Copyright 2005, table 29a (Casualties: by age band, road user type and severity: 2004).
(36) GHS, op cit, table 7.27 (Trends in percentages of persons who reported attending an outpatient or casualty department...); table 7.30 (Average number of nights spent in hospital...).
(37) Ibid, table 7.20 (NHS GP consultations: trends in site of consultation…); table 7.21 (Percentage of persons who consulted an NHS GP in the 14 days before interview by sex...).
(38) Community care statistics 2004-2005 referrals, assessments and packages of care, for adults, Department of Health, 2006, table P2s.1 (Estimated number of clients on the books to
receive community based services…).
(39) Census 2001: National report for England and Wales, National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2002, table T05 (Theme table on people aged 50 and over).

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