Fall in disabled older people in census data ‘could be due to pandemic’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Julie Stanborough, deputy director of data and analysis for social care and health at the ONS said the drop in older people who are disabled “may seem surprising”. It is likely that some older people did not think of their age-related conditions as ones intended by the Act’s definition.” Meanwhile, the figures also show there are sharp differences in levels of disability between the most deprived areas and the least deprived, though not just among older age groups. It is notable how significantly more prevalent disability is among younger people in deprived areas and the implications this may have for other aspects of their lives Julie Stanborough, ONS Around a quarter of 46 to 49 year-olds in the most deprived areas of England indicated they were disabled, compared with just one in 10 in the least deprived areas. Ms Stanborough said: “It is notable how significantly more prevalent disability is among younger people in deprived areas and the implications this may have for other aspects of their lives.” This might reflect the inclusion of a reference to mental health conditions or illnesses in the 2021 census, which “may have contributed to the increase in disability seen in younger age groups”, the ONS said.