Aging well in Staffordshire

Many of the factors that cause people to age differently can be influenced by interventions based on preventative healthcare, lifestyle choices and exercise. In line with national trends, elderly population growth is increasing at a rate greater than the working age population, and these trends will lead to significant demands on public services.

Key headlines:

Elderly population (age 85+) rising by 42% in the next 10 years (10,200).
Excess winter deaths fell and similar to national and peers, although two districts (Staffordshire Moorlands & East Staffordshire) are in the 10 worst performing authorities in the West Midlands.
Small reduction in dementia diagnosis rates and similar to national - by 2030 prevalence is set to increase by 3,500 people.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for adult social care increased; specific impact includes fewer long-term service users and increasing home care demand above Pre-COVID levels.
Local surveys reported key impacts on health and wellbeing, with respondents most worried about vulnerable family and loneliness. Those with disabilities or limiting illness and those in older age groups were most likely to have needed and received support during the pandemic.

Data update

Being able to stay healthy in later life is an important issue for all of us. Supporting people to look after their own health, particularly people with multiple long-term conditions, is crucial. Where elderly residents are supported, their quality of life and health outcomes are improved. Across Staffordshire, the demand for adult social care has increased in part as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting people to age well in Staffordshire is therefore an ever-increasing priority.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on people receiving and providing adult social care.
Demand for new assessments has increased when comparing 2019/20 to 2020/21.
Increases in support experienced not only via First Contact, but also directly into main providers.
Demand also increased, not only from people living in the community, but also those being discharged from hospital.

In addition, there is an evident shift in the types of adult social care support being provided.

Overall numbers of long term service users has fallen.
More specifically nursing and residential service users have remained below pre COVID-19 levels. In contrast community users are showing an upward trend, with home care service users now at a rate above pre-COVID-19 levels.

Dementia prevalence

It is estimated that there are over 13,600 older people in Staffordshire suffering from Dementia.
Diagnosis rate in Staffordshire is 61% and is similar to national. Although all districts are similar to national, diagnosis rates are at their lowest for East Staffordshire.
A higher diagnosis rate enables people to receive appropriate treatment.

Dementia prevalence is also set to increase by 3,500 people by 2030.

Elderly population growth

By 2031:

Staffordshire’s elderly population (85+) will increase by 42% - a rise of 10,200 people.
Similar to national, growth in the older population is greater than the working age population, resulting in fewer working age people to support the young and the old.
Staffordshire population aged 50-64 years falling faster than national.

Excess winter deaths

Excess winter deaths has potential to impact on lower life expectancy, with common causes such as respiratory diseases.
Despite a similar rate to national (2018-19), Staffordshire has the seventh-highest rate among similar authorities.
A slight improvement means there are just two districts falling into the 10 worst performing authorities in the West Midlands. The highest rate is Staffordshire Moorlands (23.2%) ranking second worst in the West Midlands.
30% of all excess winter deaths were caused by respiratory diseases.

Frail elderly - fall admissions

Over 4,000 people aged 65+ were admitted to hospital for a fall-related injury (2019/20). The Staffordshire rate has remained stable since 2018 and is similar to national, although more recent unpublished data for 2020/21 shows a reduction in falls admissions to 3,650, with a rate lower than national.
Falls can lead to increased risk of hip fracture, with over 1,000 hip fracture hospital admissions in Staffordshire each year.
People aged 80+ account for two thirds of hip fractures, with rates similar to national average. Rates are highest and above national in Tamworth and East Staffordshire.

Furthermore, by 2031 falls admissions are set to increase by 730 per year (assuming admissions grow at the same rate).

Staffordshire as a place to live

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