Some older people do not get the help they need with day to day activities. This could include, for example, help with preparing meals and getting dressed. Not getting help with these activities can impact on older people’s health and wellbeing. Understanding which groups of older people are most likely to miss out on getting this crucial support is important. Our work looked at all available evidence about older people who do not get the help they need with day to day activities.

 

We found that people whose needs are more likely to go unmet include men, the younger old, people who live alone, or are poorer and in poor physical and mental health. There was also evidence that some minority ethnic groups were more likely to have unmet needs. We found no evidence to ascertain the risk of unmet needs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, and queer populations.

 

Policy makers and services could use this information to ensure that care is delivered to everyone who needs it.