The population of older adults in the UK is changing in various ways. There's a dynamic shift, with a more diverse mix of people growing older. This includes minority groups, those with different social identities (like LGBTQ+ individuals), and people with lifelong disabilities such as cerebral palsy, who are now living longer.
We think these 'new ageing' groups make up about 15% (1.3 million people) of the total population aged 65 and older in the UK, or 4.9 million out of the 33 million people aged 40 and above. We're looking at all three groups together because they share common experiences of facing negative attitudes and marginalization, but also benefit from positive changes brought about by equality laws. It's important to note that there may be variations within and between these groups, such as differences in family support networks.