We’ve published our latest Annual Public Health Report and this year the theme is Health in an Ageing Devon.
The report, which you can view here, highlights the challenges that an ageing population in Devon presents, the underlying factors that can contribute to poor health and what we can all do to help ensure that we live healthier for longer.
Devon has an older population and faster older population growth than the UK average.
Over the next 20 years the predicted proportion of those aged 75 and over living in Devon will increase from 13.7 per cent this year to 18.4 per cent by 2043.
This population change, says the report, and that people are spending more years in ill-health, poses challenges in relation to the health, wellbeing and quality of life for all of us. Coupled with a reduction in the birth rate in the future, this means that the ratio of younger people to older people will also reduce.
This will inevitably affect our frontline workforce and carers, both paid and unpaid.
Currently across Devon there are just over two working-age people to one older person. By 2043, we expect this to reduce to 1.7 working aged people to one older person.
The report also illustrates how, over the past decade, life expectancy has stalled and remained similar both locally and nationally.
The average life expectancy across Devon is 85 and 87 years (male and female respectively) with average healthy life expectancy being approximately 77 and 79 years.
This shows that people in Devon are on average living around a decade in poorer health and, as with life expectancy, no significant improvement in healthy life expectancy has been seen over the last decade.
It also looks at other areas including risk factors for older people, the predicted growth in long-term conditions and disabilities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity and the importance of physical activity, vaccinations, screening and oral health.
Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said:
“My report this year highlights the changing demographic profile of Devon over the next twenty years and through modelling predicts future levels of illness and disability in Devon.
“The report not only provides a greater understanding of the future challenges we could face, but also provides an overview of what the evidence tells us we can do to enable people to maximise the number of years spent in good health, remaining active and living independently for as long as possible.”
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member Public Health, Communities and Equality, said:
“The data is clear that as we see a rise in the number of older adults in Devon over the coming years, we are going to see an increase in the number of people living in with long-term conditions, disease and disability.
“Ultimately the scale of the challenge associated with an increase in older adults living in poor health will depend upon the actions we all take now.
“Staying active physically, mentally and socially are important things we can all do. It is never too early or too late to start, and the evidence is clear, action, regardless of how old you are, can help us to live happier and healthier lives for longer in older age.”
