This Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) summary picture of Calderdale has been produced by the Ageing Well Alliance Board. It is drawn from:
- what local people have told us;
- what nationally comparable data tells us;
- and what we also know from locally collected data.
It identifies key assets and strengths in Calderdale which:
- enable people to age well, be more connected and live in vibrant communities;
- and also identified other areas where we need to make improvements.
It will be updated each year. Its aim is to help people understand the most important issues for older people in Calderdale.
Our Calderdale Health and Wellbeing ambition for Ageing Well is that older people are:
- more connected;
- and live in vibrant communities.
To support this ambition Calderdale is working towards becoming an Age-Friendly Community.
In a 2024 survey:
- 52.5% of people over 50 in Calderdale strongly felt they belonged to their local community;
- and 31.5% were neutral.
Demography
Our population, like the rest of the country is ageing.
- Four in ten people in Calderdale being over 50.
- One in five are over sixty-five years old. This is an increase of 23% in the last ten years and is projected to increase further.
By 2041, almost half of Calderdale's people will be aged over fifty:
- one in four will be aged sixty-five and over;
- and almost 4% will be aged eighty-five and over.
Because this is such a wide age group, where possible data is shown for different age ranges:
- 50 - 65;
- 65 - 84;
- and 85 and over.
Our ageing population is also becoming more diverse and most:
- enter older age in good health and stay in good health;
- while maintaining independence and a high quality of life.
Healthy life expectancy at birth and at age 65 in Calderdale is similar to England. However, what is not equal between different communities in Calderdale is:
- how many years people live for;
- and the number of years spent in good health in later life.
Why this is important
Average life expectancy at birth in Calderdale in 2023 was slightly lower than the England average:
- 78.1 years versus 79.3 for men;
- and 82.5 versus 83.2 for women.
There are big differences between communities within Calderdale. The most recent community level data (2016 - 2020) shows the average life expectancy:
- for men in Park Ward is 10 years lower than men in Hipperholme and Lightcliffe (72.5 versus 82.2 years);
- for women in Park Ward is 10 years less than women in Northowram and Shelf (77 versus 87.2 years).
Shorter life expectancy is associated with living in areas with less money, opportunities and facilities.
The community level data about healthy life expectancy is from 2009-13. It showed that:
- Men in the most deprived areas in Calderdale on average expected to spend 14 fewer years in good health. This is compared to men in the least deprived areas.
- For women the difference is 15.7 years.
What contributes to shorter life expectancy in poorer areas
In 2020 to 2021, life expectancy in the most deprived fifth of Calderdale compared to the least deprived fifth was:
- 8.7 years shorter for men;
- and 8.4 years shorter for women.
Circulatory disease (heart disease/stroke) was the biggest single reason, which caused:
- 26.4% of the gap for men;
- and 18.6% women.
This was followed by:
- external causes for men (injury, poisoning and suicide) 15.7%;
- and respiratory diseases (flu, pneumonia and chronic lower respiratory disease) for women 16.5%.
Conditions people live in and opportunities they have contribute to the chance of developing and dying earlier from these causes.
What people told us was important for them to be able to live well in older age
Accessibility
A significant role in the ability of older people to confidently age in place is there being access to:
- well-designed built environments;
- alongside access to parks and open spaces.
Being able to navigate community spaces confidently to access services or to engage in social and physical activities promotes:
- positive physical and mental health;
- and reduces the risk of falls.
Of those that responded to the 2024 Ageing Well survey:
- 85% agreed or strongly agreed that the parks and open spaces are easy to get to;
- and 60% felt they were safe.
Things to do
Being socially active is a strong protective factor for the physical and mental health and wellbeing for all ages. People recognise this as an important part of ageing well.
Social isolation and loneliness have a serious negative impact on physical and mental health. This compares to other well established risk factors, such as:
- smoking;
- obesity;
- and physical activity.
Although rates in Calderdale are similar to rates in England:
- only 40.7% of adult social care users over 65 have as much social contact as they would like;
- and only 28.9% of adult carers over 65 do.
Safety and belonging
A key component of the World Health Organisation's framework for age-friendly communities is an emphasis on 'ageing in place'. This means being able to stay independent and safe at home or in familiar settings and connected to the community.
This can can foster a sense of safety, freedom and identity whilst linking people to neighbourhoods and communities. This promotes an increase in wellbeing, belonging, social participation and healthy ageing.
The Ageing Well Survey 2024 found that:
- more people in Central and North Halifax felt they did not strongly belong to their communities;
- compared to people living in Lower and Upper Valley (22 - 25% versus 11 - 12%).
Getting about
Mobility and transport are key to help older people stay healthy, active and connected in later life. The freedom to travel has a wide range of social, economic and environmental benefits for older people. These include:
- continuing to work or contribute more actively as volunteers;
- look after children and care for others;
- and stay more physically active and feel less socially isolated.
The design of the public realm can hinder active travel (walking/cycling) and affect the ability to access public transport. Issues include:
- a lack of amenities (toilets/benches);
- the condition and design of pavements;
- and lack of appropriate maps/signage.
Transport and getting around were identified as issues in the Ageing Well survey 2024- public transport, roads and accessible parking.
Age-friendly housing
Most of us would prefer to stay living independently in our own homes and communities as we age. Over two million people (estimated) in England aged 55 and over live in homes that do not meet basic standards. For example, it is too cold or too damp or has a trip hazard.
Cold temperatures may cause blood pressure to rise in older people. This increases the risk of strokes and other circulatory problems. Cold homes are also linked with lower strength and dexterity and can worsen existing arthritis symptoms.
Along with inadequate adaptation and poor maintenance these factors increase the risk of falls and trips in the home. These are one of the major causes of death or significant injury among older adults.
2.3% of homes lived in by people over 50 in Calderdale have no central heating:
- 1.87% of people 50 to 64;
- 2.88% for people aged 65 plus;
- and 3.56% of homes with people age over 85.
Employment
Good jobs create health and wellbeing. However, people over 50, but below retirement age, are less likely to be in employment than younger working age adults.
- In 2023/24, 72.6% of 50 - 64 year olds in Calderdale were in work compared to 71.8% in England.
- This varied hugely by ward. Just over 40% of people in Park Ward were in employment compared to 74% in Northowram and Shelf.
The reasons for economic inactivity in this age group vary greatly. There are big differences in people on long-term sick or with caring responsibilities between wards.
For more details, please visit: Ageing Well dashboard.
Poverty overall
Calderdale has a similar proportion of older people in poverty (income deprivation) to England at 14% versus 14.2% (2019).
- This varies between 7.5% in Northowram and Shelf and 47.5% in Park Ward.
- Ovenden (22.7%), Town (17.5%) and Todmorden (15.8%) also have high proportions of older people in poverty.
Other health issues relating to older people
Falls
In 2023/24, there were significantly higher rates of emergency hospital admissions due to falls for people aged over 65. This was mainly people aged 80 plus and has been the same for 9 of the last 14 years.
Over the same period, hip fractures have been similar to England. This is an area under investigation to understand what is driving hospital admissions.