Background

One and a half million people aged 65 and over in the UK are estimated to have an unmet need for support that enables them to live independently in the community.

Help with essential activities like washing, or necessary tasks such as cooking and managing medication, is critical to older people’s health, safety and independence.

Aims and objectives

Understand the factors associated with unmet need for support to maintain independence in later life, by synthesising the evidence and addressing two questions:

• Which factors are associated with unmet need for support to maintain independence in later life?
• Which groups of older people are at greatest risk of having an unmet need for support to maintain independence?

Resources and further information

• Factors associated with unmet need for support to maintain independence in later life: a mixed methods systematic review – Summary Briefing, Full Report (PDF).
• Publication: Factors associated with unmet need for support to maintain independence in later life: a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence (Age and Ageing).

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