• About this study
• Our findings
• Our study details

Understanding multiple disadvantage in older age

About this study

This study builds on our existing research into disadvantaged older people and their experiences of social exclusion.

Our new findings explore the interrelationships between disadvantages and the different groups of older people who share particular combinations of disadvantages.

Potential policy impact

The key message for policy is that because the forms of multiple disadvantage experienced by older people are complex, policy-makers need to take a 'joined up' approach to tackling social exclusion in older age.  

Continuing to understand what it's like to live with multiple disadvantage in old age is very important given the growing ageing population.  Our findings suggest that policy should foremost consider women and the oldest old, particularly as those aged 80 and over constitute the fastest growing age group in the UK.

Methods

Using data from 4,523 older people aged 60 and over, collected as part of the 2004 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, we used Latent Class Analysis to gain insights into the interrelationships between disadvantages and group together older people with similar combinations of disadvantages.

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