The survey of over 2,700 IndependentAge beneficiaries found that:
1) Good health, staying in their own home, and financial security were top priorities, especially for older respondents.
2) Declining health was the main threat to independence, along with inability to get around and finances.
3) While most could access local shops and post offices, rural residents faced more difficulties.
6. Marital Status: 60% of respondents were either widowed or divorced/separated Base: Excludes Not Stated
7. Who live with:63% of respondents indicated that they lived alone whilst 28% lived with their spouse/partner, 5% with other relatives or friends and 4% in residential care Base: Excludes Not Stated
8. Location: 47% of respondents indicated that they were from the south of England, 20% the north of England and 15% from central England Base: Excludes Not Stated
11. Being able to get around, staying in their own home for as long as possible, good health and independence, the family and feeling safe seen as essential by 50% or more of respondents Base: All Respondents
12. Under 60s less likely to rate good heath as essential than the overall sample, more likely to stress the desire to stay in their home as long as possible Base: Respondents Under 60
13. For 60-64 year olds the maintenance of dignity achieves a slightly higher degree of importance, although essentially the rank order is the same as for the sample overall Base: Respondents 60-64
14. For 65-69 year olds the rank order matches that of all respondents Base: Respondents 65-69
15. As it does for 70-74 year olds Base: Respondents 70-74
16. For 75-79 year olds staying active achieves slightly more prominence, otherwise there is little change in the rank order Base: Respondents 75-79
17. The same is true for 80-84 year olds Base: Respondents 80-84
18. 85-89 year olds are slightly more likely to stress staying in their home for as long as possible as being essential Base: Respondents 85-89
19. For those over 90, staying in their own home as long as possible is also the most important factor. Staying active is of lesser importance overall Base: Respondents 90+
20. When asked to choose only 3 factors Good health, financial security and staying in own home for as long as possible achieved most mentions, with good health clearly the major priority Base: All Respondents
21. 80% of respondents indicated that they are normally cheerful and happy, 56% of these strongly – Only 5% of respondents disagreed with this Base: All Respondents
22. 55% of respondents agree that old age can be a very happy time of life. However, 19% disagree with this Base: All Respondents
23. 74% of respondents indicated that they were very independent, 18% of them strongly. Only 5% of respondents disagreed with this Base: All Respondents
24. 58% of respondents indicated that they were very active, 33% strongly – 20% of respondents did, however, disagreed with this Base: All Respondents
25. 50% of respondents, 21% of them strongly, agreed that other people rely on them for help Base: All Respondents
26. 49% of respondents, 22% of them strongly, agreed that they able to make a difference Base: All Respondents
27. 34% of respondents agreed that they have people around them they can easily talk to but a similar number of 34% of respondents did not feel this was the case Base: All Respondents
28. Among those indicating that that they lived alone 37% indicated that they have people around them who they can easily talk to, whilst 32% disagreed Base: All Respondents
29. Although 37% of respondents worry that they will have nothing to offer anyone when they are old, 31% disagreed with this statement Base: All Respondents
30. 36% of respondents agreed that they don’t feel in control of things around them, whilst 29% disagreed with this statement Base: All Respondents
32. When asked to indicate the factors most likely to put independence at risk, declining health was the factor most likely to be considered the most important Base: All Respondents
33. Declining health, being unable to get around and declining finances the three factors most likely to be mentioned as impacting on future independence Base: All Respondents
35. Although 74% of respondents indicated that they could get to the local shops easily, 21% disagreed Base: All Respondents
36. Respondents living in the open countryside were the least likely to indicate they could get to local shops easily Base: All Respondents
37. 72% of respondents indicated that they could get to the local post office easily, 22% disagreed Base: All Respondents
38. Respondents living a city were the most likely to indicate that they could get to a local post office easily, whilst for those living in the open countryside this was more of a problem Base: All Respondents
39. 72% of respondents indicated that they feel safe in local area, however 20% disagreed Base: All Respondents
40. Respondents living in a city were the least likely to indicate that they felt safe in their local area Base: All Respondents
41. 59% of respondents agreed that local transport met their needs, 31% disagreed Base: All Respondents
42. Respondents living in the open countryside were the least likely to indicate that local transport met their needs Base: All Respondents
43. 68% of respondents indicated that they had adequate bank and cashpoint facilities near them to meet their needs, 26% disagreed Base: All Respondents
44. Respondents living in the open countryside were the least likely to indicate they had adequate bank and cashpoint facilities in their local area Base: All Respondents
58. Reading and visiting friends the most popular activities that respondents enjoy doing Base: All Respondents
59. There is, however a significant gap between what respondents enjoy doing and what they are able to do Base: All Respondents
60. 32% of respondents indicated that they have contact with other charities, whilst 57% do not Base: All Respondents
61. Respondents who have contact with other charities were less likely to receive financial and practical support from them than advice/information or friendship Base: All Respondents
63. 55% of respondents indicated that relatives, friends or neighbours look after or provide them with help and support Base: All Respondents
64. Relatives are the most likely party to provide help and support Base: Receive Support
65. Where help and support is provided this tends to be for less than 35 hours a week Base: Receive Support
66. Help with shopping is the most common form of support Base: Receive Support
67. 18% of respondents indicated that they received some form of paid for care Base: All Respondents
68. Whilst respondents indicated that social services provide a significant level of paid for care, a significant proportion of respondents indicated that they funded themselves Base: Receive Support
69. Whilst 44% of respondents indicated that they were aware of their entitlement to a social care assessment, 33% were unaware that this was the case Base: All Respondents
70. Walking aids, alarms and bath aids the most likely of the aids to independence to be used by respondents Base: All Respondents
71. Although at a low level respondents indicated that a computer/internet would be the aid they would most likely benefit from Base: All Respondents
72. Respondents indicated that an handyman service would be a new service from IndependentAge that they would find most useful Base: All Respondents
73. An handyman service, additional financial support and help around the home the three services most likely to be considered as useful additions to the services provided by IndependentAge Base: All Respondents
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