- People who are 65 and over make up nearly a quarter (23%) of the population of East Sussex, compared to the national average of 16%
- The county also has the highest percentage of people over 85 of any county in England (3.8% or 19,331 people)
- Almost four thousand older people retired to East Sussex between mid 2006 and mid 2007.
Those are just some of the facts highlighted in the third annual Public Health Report for East Sussex, which this year focuses on the health and well-being of older people.
As well as providing a picture of the health of older people, the report also sets out the ways in which the NHS and partner organisations will work together to help people live as healthy and long lives as possible.
This includes improving the services which older people use, as well as promoting good health.
For example, it's never too late to give up smoking.
Five years after giving up smoking the risk of a stroke will be the same as a non-smoker.
It will also be important to make sure that services are balanced so they meet the needs of the areas where there are large numbers of older people, as well as the areas where the needs of older people are greatest due to deprivation.
The report shows that there is a big variation in the proportions of older people living in different areas and in how much income they have.
In NHS Hastings and Rother, 11% of older people are on incomes low enough that they are classed as being affected by income deprivation.
For NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald that figure is 8%
The life expectancy in East Sussex at the age of 65 is an additional 18.5 years for men and 21.1 years for women.
There is variation of life expectancy at 65 within NHS Hastings and Rother, the lowest in St Leonards Lower with 16.3 for men and 18.7 for women, to the highest in Rural Rother at 18.8 for men and 21.7 for women.
In the East Sussex Down and Weald area the variation of life expectancy at 65 is as follows:
Lowest for men - 18.3 years in the Havens and Eastbourne Central
Lowest for women - Eastbourne CG at 21.2 years
Highest for men - 20.1 years in Seaford
Highest for women - Eastbourne East at 22.8 years
Dr Diana Grice, Director of Public Health for NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother, wrote the report.
She says:
"The number of older people in East Sussex looks set to continue to rise for years to come, so it is vital that we have a clear idea of their health needs so we can work hard to help them live as healthy lives as possible for as long as possible.
This includes improving services for older people and carers, promoting independence and wellbeing, providing local services, and helping people to stay in their own homes.
We will be strengthening the way we work with East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care to ensure as joined up a service for older people as possible.
This reports gives us a clear of picture of what is going on locally and also sets out what we plan to do to make sure that services meet the needs of local people."
The full report is available via:
http://www.esdw.nhs.uk/about-us/strategic-documents/director-of-public-health-annual-reports/
http://www.hastingsandrother.nhs.uk/about-us/strategic-documents/director-of-public-health-annual-reports/
