Long-term illness or disability which restricts daily activities: by sex and age, April 2001, Great Britain
Health
While women can expect to live longer than men, they are also more likely to have more years in poor health. Healthy life expectancy for women in 1999 averaged 69 years compared with 67 years for men.
The proportion of people with a long-term illness or disability which restricts their daily activities increases with age. Among women in Great Britain, the proportion of those aged 85 and over reporting such a disability in 2001 (74 per cent) was almost triple that for women aged 50 to 64 (26 per cent). The increase with age among men was not quite so strong – 27 per cent of 50 to 64 year olds compared with 67 per cent of those aged 85 and over.
In the 50 to 64 and 65 to 84 age groups, a similar percentage of women as men have such a disability. However, among those aged 85 and over, the rate for women is greater than that for men.
The types of chronic sickness suffered by older people in Great Britain can be wide ranging. The most commonly reported conditions in 2001/02 among those aged 65 and over were heart and circulatory diseases and musculoskeletal ailments. Women over 75 were more likely than men of the same age to suffer from arthritis and rheumatism. Conversely men were more likely than women to report respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and emphysema.
Many people in the older age groups still consider themselves to be in good health, even if they have a long-term illness which restricts daily activities. In 2001, around one in 20 of both men and women in England and Wales aged between 50 and 64 who considered themselves in good health had such a disability. Among those aged 85 and over in good health, the percentages reporting such a disability rose to 33 per cent for men and 40 per cent for women.
Percentage of people in households providing unpaid care: by sex and age, April 2001, England & Wales
Caring
In 2001 almost 2.8 million people aged 50 and over (16 per cent) living in private households in England and Wales provided unpaid care for family members, friends or neighbours.
People in their fifties were the group most likely to be providing unpaid care. More than one in five (21 per cent) were doing so. The proportion declined with age. Even so, 5 per cent of those aged 85 and over were providing some form of unpaid care.
Among 50 to 64 year olds a greater proportion of women than men provide unpaid care. However, for the older age groups men are more likely than women to be providing care.
One in four carers over the age of 50 (24 per cent) spent 50 hours or more a week caring. This proportion rose to one in two carers aged 85 and over (50 per cent).
Sources: Census, April 2001, Office for National Statistics for limiting long-term illness, good health and caring data Census, April 2001, General Register Office for Scotland for limiting long-term illness, good health and caring data General Household Survey 2001/02 for most commonly reported conditions
Notes: The term disability is used to refer to limiting long-term illness or disability which restricts daily activities. It is calculated from a 'Yes' response to the question in the 2001 Census: "Do you have any long-term illness, health problem or disability which limits your activities or the work you can do?" This includes problems due to old age.
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