Ageing in a Rural Place

A commentary on the challenges and opportunities for people ageing in rural and coastal places to provide insights to support
our vision of a society where everyone enjoys a good later life., from the Centre for Ageing Better.

The UK’s population is undergoing an immense age shift.

Of the 9.3 million rural residents in England in 2018, 21% were aged 65 and over. This compares to just 16% in urban areas. While rural areas often have higher average outcomes than their urban counterparts, this can mask pockets of significant inequality and deprivation. It is essential that the challenges and opportunities presented by ageing in rural and coastal places are seen as a priority and that strategies and plans including economic and COVID-19 recovery planning address these issues.

In less than 20 years, one in four people will be over 65.  The fact that many of us are living longer is a great achievement. But unless radical action is taken by the government, businesses and others in society, millions of us risk missing out on enjoying those extra years.

At the Centre for Ageing Better we want everyone to enjoy later life. We create change in policy and practice informed by evidence, and work with partners across England to improve employment, housing, health and communities.