Health and wellbeing needs: Older people

South Tyneside Older People's Health and Wellbeing Profile

• Our ageing population is experiencing greater inequality. Socio economic differences are growing and they have a very significant impact on older people's experience of life, especially as it affects their health and wellbeing. For example: male life expectancy in a deprived area is nine years shorter than in an affluent area.
• Male and female life expectancy is lower in South Tyneside than the England average. Male life expectancy is 9.9 years lower and female life expectancy is 8.6 years lower in the more deprived areas of South Tyneside. (Public Health England. June 2015)
• 18.1% of the population were economically inactive due to retirement in South Tyneside between October 2014 - September 2015 in comparison to 15.1% in the North East according to ONS Annual Population Survey.
• 18.8% of deaths from respiratory disease in persons aged 85+ - higher than England average.
• 55.85% hospital deaths in persons aged 75-84 - higher than England average.
• 60.8% hospital deaths in persons aged 85+ - higher than England average.
• 10% excess winter deaths (3 years, aged 85+) - better than England average.
• Fuel poverty is worse than England average (11.3%). This is based on the percentage of households that experience fuel poverty based on low income high cost methodology.
• Excess weight in adults - 71.9% population considered overweight or obese.
• Percentage of physically active and inactive adults is worse than England average, with 32.9% population disclosed as inactive and 49.2% population disclosed as being active.
• 2035 per 100,000 injuries due to falls in people aged 65 plus.
• 12.7% people have had an emergency readmission into hospital within 30 days of discharge from hospital.
• Health related quality of life for older people is worse than England average with 0.677 being the average score for people aged 65 plus.
• 2,331 per 100,000 hip fractures for older people aged 85+ - worse than England average.
• Excess winter deaths for older people is similar to England average.
• South Tyneside is 15^th out of 32,844 LSOA's for risk of loneliness in older people 65+ therefore in the top 20 most at risk areas
  • Age UK: Loneliness maps

In order to support older people to contribute and actively participate in society we must consider and embrace all of the areas which affect older people's lives which extend beyond health and social care including housing, transport, culture and leisure and built environment to improve their health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. All of these areas have a role to play in improving the health and wellbeing of the older population and thereby reducing the demand for expensive reactive, emergency or institutional services. (Association of North East Councils. April 2016)