Research and data in the Scottish Borders: People

Why is it important to have data about health and wellbeing in older people?

The Scottish Government National Performance Framework states simply that "we are healthy and active". Our NHS is pivotal to our health and happiness but we also understand that our health is dependent on a wide variety of factors.  We need to take a whole-system approach to promoting good health and activity, regardless of gender, background or any other Equalities protected characteristic. We use the latest research and data to make sure Scottish Borders plays its part in making this outcome happen in our region. The information on this page is an analysis of the policy framework, the topics and the evidence that informs this national outcome, with particular respect to older people.

Scottish Borders Policy framework

The 2022-23 Scottish Borders Council Plan is key to our policy framework on how we plan to deliver services in the next few years. It consists of six outcome priorities, which are informed by an evidence base, including the Strategic Assessment. Health and Wellbeing in older people is central to Outcome Priority 5: "Good health and wellbeing". You can see how we are doing in delivering this outcome in our quarterly and annual performance reports.

The strategic priority on improving public health in Scottish Borders is managed by the Public Health Team. The Joint Health Improvement Team works with Health and Social Care to improve health and reduce health inequalities.  

Find our more about Public Health in Scottish Borders.

For imformation about our services to adults and older people, visit our corporate resource pages. 

Topic areas

There is a large amount of evidence from official statistics to inform Older People's policy development, across a wide range of topic areas.

Demographics of the older population

• statistics on NRS Midyear Population Estimates, for age bands including Over 65s, 65-74s, Over 75s and Over 85s, at council and Intermediate Datazone levels, are available on the Population profile of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiles Tool
• Current population estimates (young and old) for children, over 70s and over 80s by gender are available at council area and small area levels from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data platform
• statistics on the Dependency Ratio (people aged outwith 16-64 as a percentage of people aged 16-64) are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• statistics on Life Expectancy and Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) by age, gender, SIMD quintile and urban-rural classification are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• evidence from the 2019 Scottish Household Survey on topics such as older people's composition and characteristics of households, are available

Physical health in older people

• statistics on bowel screening uptake amongst people aged 50-75 are available on the Health and Wellbeing profile of the ScotPHO Online Profiling tool
• evidence from the 2019 Scottish Household Survey on topics such as older people's attitudes to physical activity and to the outdoors, are available

Financial wellbeing and older people

• evidence from the 2019 Scottish Household Survey on topics such as older people's attitudes to finance and their financial health, are available

Social wellbeing and older people

• evidence from the 2019 Scottish Household Survey on topics such as older people's attitudes to neighbourhood and community, internet use, local services, volunteering and cultural activity, are available

Care needs in older people

• the latest statistics on residential care, social care direct payments and the needs of carers, are available from the LGBF interactive Explore tool
• the latest statistics on care home infrastructure by ownership and main client group, in terms of numbers of homes, numbers of places, occupancy rate and weekly charges with or without nursing care, are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• the latest statistics on residents in care homes by client group, in terms of age demographics, average age, health characteristics, numbers of admissions, discharges and deaths, average length of stay and type of stay, are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• statistics on the rate per 100,000 of people aged 65 plus with multiple hospital admissions are available on the Health and Wellbeing profile of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiling Tool
• the latest statistics on delayed discharges for children, adults under 75 and adults over 75, in terms of monthly bed days occupied, and monthly census of duration and reason for delay, are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform
• the latest statistics on palliative and End Of Life care by sex, age group, urban-rural classification and SIMD Quintile, are available from the Scottish Official Statistics Open Data Platform 
• statistics on the percentage of deaths that occur in a hospital setting are available on the Health and Wellbeing profile of the interactive ScotPHO Online Profiling Tool

Official Statistics on these topics are available at Scottish Borders or Health Board level and sometimes at neighbourhood level. If you live, work or study in the Scottish Borders and would like any help accessing or using these statistics, contact us using the contact details below.