More live to 90 than ever before
THE number of Britons living far into old age is at a record high, it was revealed yesterday.
Last year there were 584,020 people aged 90 and over living in the UK – a 50 per cent rise since 2002.
Average life expectancy in the past 12 months saw its biggest increase in four years, according to official figures.
But the findings prompted warnings of the difficulty and cost of caring for Britain’s growing older population, with the social care crisis showing no signs of abating.
Jane Ashcroft, chief executive of not-for-profit elderly housing provider Anchor Hanover, said: “The fact that we are living longer is one of the most significant developments in human existence and should be celebrated.
“However, deeply ingrained institutional ageism and years of inaction to reform funding for social care systems that millions rely on have left tens of thousands of older people suffering unnecessarily.
“To secure a positive future that people can look forward to, we demand Government publish its ‘clear plan’ to reform social care as an immediate priority.”
National life tables released by the Office for National Statistics revealed the rise in over-90s has been driven by men living longer. However there are still more than twice as many women (400,000) as men (183,000) aged 90-plus.
Average UK life-expectancy for men is now 79.3 years and 82.9 for women. But the number of people living to their 100th birthday is falling.At its peak in 2016, 14,060 people had received a telegram from the Queen. Now there are 13,170.
Experts say this is because of the low birth rate during the First World War and more deaths in this age group over the past two years.
There are now 820 people living in the UK aged 105 and over, an increase of 148 per cent since 2002 when there were 330.
Dr Aideen Young, of the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “Our longer lives are an incredible gift and open up huge opportunities.
“But we mustn’t be complacent. Life expectancy remains lower in less well-off parts of the country, and many people in their 50s and 60s now, particularly those who are less well-off, simply won’t reach these older ages.”