Keeping elderly active could save care sector billions, report says

Encouraging elderly people to take exercise could help tackle the UK’s ageing crisis and save the care sector billions, according to campaigners.

A new report from ukactive says innovative solutions and encouragement from pharmacists and meals on wheels staff could save billions of pounds in NHS and social care costs.

With one in five of the UK population due to be aged 65 or more by 2025 and social care currently costing the country £100 billion per year, the authors warn that failure to promote regular physical activity among older adults could be ‘catastrophic’.

They say just one in five English local authorities have physical activity strategy for care homes, yet getting over-65s action could save the NHS £12 billion.

Older adults are at greater risk of ill health because of the widely-held belief they should ‘take it easy’, ukactive says.

They recommend a national activity therapy service to encourage physical activity and give advice on how to be more active.

Steven Ward, ukactive, said: “We need to make physical activity the natural choice from cradle to grave and that means putting exercise – the miracle cure – at the heart of our health and social care systems, especially for older adults.”