A new study by Halton Stairlifts has highlighted stark regional differences in how well UK areas are equipped to support their ageing populations, with Reigate and Banstead emerging as the most prepared and Derry City and Strabane ranking as the least. As the UK’s population ages, with projections from the Office for National Statistics indicating that over 27% of people will be over 65 by 2072, up from 19% in 2022, the study underscores the urgent need for tailored infrastructure to meet growing care demands. The analysis evaluated 167 administrative areas across six key factors: care home availability, care home quality, room availability, room costs, pension income, and median weekly pay.

UK’s best-prepared areas for population ageing

The top ten areas, dominated by southern England, showcase robust infrastructure and economic advantages:

• Reigate and Banstead leads with a score of 64.63 out of 100, bolstered by a median weekly pay of £746.90, the highest pension income at £506 weekly, and care facilities rated 9.74 out of 10.
• Southend-on-Sea, scoring 61.72, boasts the highest care home density at 19.20 per 10 square kilometres, ideal for elderly residents with mobility needs.
• Arun ranks third with a score of 61.20, offering 1,664 care home rooms per 100,000 people and a care facility rating of 9.66.
• Islington, in fourth place with 57.83, has high-quality care facilities rated 9.85, though its room costs are steep at £1,656.06 weekly due to limited availability (256 rooms per 100,000 people).
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (57.68), Sutton (57.31), New Forest (57.05), Croydon (56.19), South Oxfordshire (55.93), and Basingstoke and Deane (55.58) complete the top ten, all benefiting from above-average pension incomes of at least £473 weekly, 4% higher than the national average of £454.

Eight of these top ten areas are in southern England, with four London boroughs – Islington, Sutton, Croydon, and South Oxfordshire – highlighting the region’s economic and infrastructural strengths. High pension incomes and quality care facilities are consistent features among these leaders.

UK’s least-prepared areas for population ageing

In contrast, Northern Ireland dominates the bottom five, facing significant challenges:

• Derry City and Strabane ranks lowest with a score of 20.61, hampered by a care home density of just 0.2 per 10 square kilometres and a low pension income of £401 weekly.
• Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon scores 29.61, with a similarly low care home density of 0.25 per 10 square kilometres and a pension income of £401.
• Ards and North Down, with a score of 29.82, has the UK’s lowest median weekly pay at £459.20, straining families supporting elderly relatives.
• Mid Ulster scores 29.84, with a care home density of 0.18 per 10 square kilometres and a pension income of £550.30.
• Flintshire, in Wales, ranks fifth-worst at 30.14, limited by below-average room availability (578 per 100,000 people).

Neil McKenzie, director at Halton Stairlifts, said: Our study shows that the south of England, particularly areas around London and along the south coast, appear to be best prepared with their mix of care facility availability and economic advantages. On the other hand, the bottom five areas face multiple challenges ranging from limited care facilities to lower incomes. With four of these areas in Northern Ireland, there’s a clear regional pattern suggesting that some parts of the UK will need additional support and investment to address the needs of their ageing communities.

“The gap between weekly pay and care costs creates real challenges for families supporting older relatives. In some areas, care home costs can exceed local weekly earnings by more than £700, placing enormous financial pressure on families and creating a postcode lottery for elder care. As the UK’s population continues to age, local authorities and care providers must work together to address these challenges.”