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fuel poverty and heating may be adversely impacting on this group. Census data suggest that the older the occupant, the less likely they are to have central heating. Data on Daffodil Cymru suggests that 3.3% of households in the area do not have central heating with Ceredigion being the highest at 5.4%; this is in stark comparison to the Welsh average of 1.9%. Large parts of the region are also in Fuel Poverty, with some areas having a rate of 17% or higher of fuel poverty compared to the 14% Welsh average.
Evidence suggests that older people are particularly vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation (NHS, 2015). Whilst living alone in itself does not equate to loneliness, research shows that those who do live alone are more likely to be lonely (De Jong et al, 2011). In West Wales there are currently 40,496 people 65+ living alone, which represents 45% of this group, with the likelihood of living alone increasing with age (Daffodil, 2014c). It is predicted that between 2008 and 2033 there will be a 44% increase in the. number of 65–74-year-olds living alone, a 38% increase in those aged 75–85 and a 145% increase in those aged 84+ (Department for Communities and Local Government, 2010). Levels of loneliness and isolation could be further compounded by other factors, such as high levels of rurality and lack of access to transport. The most recent evidence in this area indicates that 14% of people aged 65 and over felt they were unable to manage walking down the road without assistance (The Young Foundation, 2006).
The Quality of Life Indicators for Older People (Public Health Wales Observatory, 2012) published by Public Health Wales show that accelerating factors for this group vary across the different LA areas; with those in Carmarthenshire presenting higher instances of poor health and disability, with Pembrokeshire having higher levels of obesity compared with the Welsh average.
12.3. Current and Future Care and Support Needs
Whilst it is not possible to equate population changes precisely with need for increased care and support (Bolton, 2016), the predicted care and support needs of older people are summarised below. A holistic approach which supports resilience and independence needs to underpin all levels of care and support. This will provide integrated, coordinated and person-centred care, appropriate rapid and effective support at times of crisis, high quality acute care and choice, and control and support towards the end of life. In identifying care and support needs, reference has been made to relevant data and research as well as expressed views of older people. A range of quantitative data has been obtained from the wellbeing survey undertaken on behalf of the three Public Service Boards in the summer of 2016, early responses to the initial wellbeing questionnaires distributed to service users by local authorities and from ‘what matters to you?’ conversations which form an integral part of individual integrated assessments. Local ‘Ageing Well’ consultation data and material emerging from engagement with fora such as 50 + groups in each LA area and the Carmarthenshire Dementia Action Board, have also been taken into account.
West Wales Population Assessment March 2017 Older people