A study by Newcastle University has found the amount of time the elderly need care towards the end of life in England has doubled over the past two decades. Published in The Lancet, the study looked at the growth in the numbers of older people, as well as the number of years the elderly population need daily care.
While life expectancy of men and women in England rose by more than four years between 1991 and 2011, the number of years men and women require substantial care also increased – from 1.1 years to 2.4 years in men and 1.6 to three years in women. This includes help with washing and dressing each day and round-the-clock care.