ROYAL COLLEGE OF PODIATRY
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Rural older people more likely to miss out on social care, new analysis suggests
Rural older people more likely to miss out on social care, new analysis suggests
Government data analysis indicates that older people in rural areas are slightly more likely to go without requested social care support than those in urban settings.
What’s happened
New analysis of the UK government’s Adult Social Care Activity Report 2024–25 suggests that in England, 38.5% of people aged 65 and over who requested social care did not receive it.
The proportion was slightly higher in rural areas (39.8%) than in urban areas (37.4%). In some local authorities, the gap was more pronounced.
Hertfordshire recorded 64.5% of older people not receiving requested support, while other areas showed markedly different outcomes despite similar levels of demand.
Why this matters to members
Many podiatrists work with older adults in community and domiciliary settings, particularly those living with diabetes, frailty and increased falls risk.
Gaps in social care provision can influence:
access to preventative support
timing of intervention
mobility and safety in the home
risk of deterioration before clinical presentation
Rural areas are ageing faster than urban centres, with over a quarter of residents aged 65 and over.
What happens next
The figures reflect reported requests and outcomes within local authority social care systems and do not capture informal care arrangements or privately funded support.
The findings sit within wider discussions about funding pressures facing local authorities and variations in service capacity across England.
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