| | | | | | | | | | | | Outdoor Spaces and Buildings |
| | | | The outside environment and public buildings have a major impact on the mobility, independence and quality of life of older people. Living Environment Deprivation - Outdoor Physical Environment The Northern Ireland Deprivation Measure 2017 Living Environment Domain - the purpose of this domain is to identify small areas experiencing deprivation in terms of the quality of housing, access to suitable housing and the outdoor physical environment. It comprises three separate sub-domains measuring each of these.
Within Mid Ulster LGD2014 the most deprived Super Output Area based on the outdoor physical environment sub-domain measure is Maghera (ranked 227 out of 890 in NI) and the least deprived Super Output Area is Killycolpy (ranked 884 out of 890 in NI).
*1 is the most deprived SOA in Nothern Ireland and 890 the least deprived. |
| | | | | Outdoor Spaces Having green spaces is one of the most commonly mentioned age-friendly features. For its small area, Northern Ireland has a great variety of scenic countryside and although there are no National Parks, large areas of landscape of distinctive character and special scenic value have been designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). This designation is designed to protect and enhance the qualities of each area and to promote their enjoyment by the public. There are 8 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland as well as Northern Ireland Environment Agency Country Parks and nature reserves. The boundaries of each AONB within local government district areas can be viewed here. The WHO Outdoor Space and Buildings guide highlights that Services are clustered, located in close proximity to where older people live and can be easily accessed. Locational data including credit unions, dental surgeries, indoor bowling, pharmacies, shopping centres and visitor attractions are available to view on NINIS. |
| | | | | | | | | | | Outdoor Safety
Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) aim to make our community safer by focusing on the policing and community safety issues that matter most in each local council area. Recorded Crime statistics are available on NINIS and show there were 4,762 recorded crime offences in Mid Ulster LGD2014 during 2018/19, which accounted for 4.7% of recorded crime offences in Northern Ireland. An interactive map showing Recorded Crime is available to view on NINIS. Offences, where victims are 60+ years old are shown in the table below. Recorded Crime – Victim aged 60+, Local Government District 2014 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Financial Year | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | | Violence against the Person | 80 | 78 | 71 | 70 | 109 | | Burglary | 81 | 55 | 72 | 70 | 47 | | Non Vehicle Theft | 84 | 62 | 82 | 65 | 71 | | Criminal Damage | 117 | 147 | 100 | 111 | 101 | | Other Offences | 34 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 39 | | Total | 396 | 374 | 355 | 345 | 367 |
| | | | | | In 2018/19, 7% of respondents to the Northern Ireland Crime Survey aged 60 and over stated that they were very worried about crime with 72% stating that ‘fear of crime’ has a minimal affect on their life. 10% of respondents in this age group felt unsafe walking alone in their area at night and 2% felt unsafe alone in home at night. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Financial Year | Northern Ireland | | Percentage of older people (aged 60+) who: | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | | are very worried about crime (%) | 6 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 7 | | state ‘fear of crime’ has a minimal affect on their quality of life (%) | 68 | 74 | 72 | 72 | 72 | | Feel very unsafe walking alone in their area after dark (%) | 10 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | | Feel very unsafe alone in home at night (%) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Transportation, including accessible and affordable public transport, is a key factor influencing active ageing. It is a theme running through many other age-friendly topics. In particular, being able to move about the community determines social and civic participation and access to community and health services. |
| | | | | Public/Private Transport Concessionary fare scheme 'SmartPass' - Free travel is available to all senior citizens who are 60 years of age or over and who are resident in Northern Ireland. At December 2017, 315,905 smartpasses were held by older people in Northern Ireland and 19,659 of these by older people living in Mid Ulster LGD2014. You can travel anywhere in Northern Ireland on any Translink bus or rail service completely free of charge. You can also enjoy free cross border rail travel. The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (2016-2018) reports that the car is the main mode of transport for those aged 60+ with 68% of journeys made by car for males aged 60+ and 70% for females. In the same period only 3% of journeys were made by Public Transport for males aged 60+ and 6% of journeys by females. On Census day 2011, there were 16,701 people aged 65+ years in Mid Ulster LGD2014 living in households. 80% of these lived in households with access to a car or van. The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (2016-2018) reports that 65% of adults aged 70+ hold a driving license although this varies with gender with 50% of females aged 70+ and 82% of males aged 70+ holding a driving license. The Travel Survey for Northern Ireland (2016-2018) reports that 35% of adults aged 60+ have difficulty with travel due to physical disability or long-standing health problem. |
| | | | | Road Safety The total number of reported road traffic collision casualties for persons aged 60+ in Northern Ireland in 2018 was 1,134. Of these 147 were killed/seriously injured and a further 987 were slightly injured. The total number of reported road traffic collision casualties for persons aged 60+ in Mid Ulster LGD2014 in 2018 was 77. Of these 12 were killed/seriously injured and a further 65 were slightly injured. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | | Road Traffic Casulties for persons aged 60+ | 85 | 88 | 73 | 77 | | No. of casulties killed/seriously injured | 13 | 11 | 14 | 12 | | No. of casulties slightly injured | 72 | 77 | 59 | 65 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Housing is essential to safety and well-being. There is a link between appropriate housing and access to community and social services in influencing the independence and quality of life of older people. Households In Northern Ireland on Census day 2011, there were 263,720 people aged 65+ years. Of these, 96% lived in a household and 4% lived in communal establishments. On Census day 2011, there were 17,391 people aged 65+ years living in Mid Ulster LGD2014; 96% lived in a household and 4% lived in communal establishments. Of those 16,701 people aged 65+ years living in households in Mid Ulster LGD2014, 82% lived in households that were owner occupied, 8% in households that were social rented, 5% in households that were private rented and 5% were living rent free. Comparative figures for Northern Ireland (people aged 65+ years) are 77% lived in households that were owner occupied, 14% in households that were social rented, 5% in households that were private rented and 4% were living rent free. On Census day 2011, 4,742 households in Mid Ulster LGD2014 were one person households where the resident was aged 65+ years. 2,698 households were one family houses where all people were aged 65+ years and 271 households were other household types where all residents were aged 65+ years. Living Environment Deprivation - Housing Access and Housing Quality The Northern Ireland Deprivation Measure 2017 Living Environment Domain - the purpose of this domain is to identify small areas experiencing deprivation in terms of the quality of housing, access to suitable housing and the outdoor physical environment. It comprises three separate sub-domains measuring these. Within Mid Ulster LGD2014 the most deprived Super Output Area based on the housing quality sub-domain measure is Upperlands (ranked 31 out of 890 in NI) and the least deprived Super Output Area is Maghera (ranked 810 out of 890 in NI). Within Mid Ulster LGD2014 the most deprived Super Output Area based on the housing access sub-domain measure is Coolhill (ranked 4 out of 890 in NI) and the least deprived Super Output Area is Town Parks East 2 (ranked 829 out of 890 in NI). *1 is the most deprived SOA in Nothern Ireland and 890 the least deprived. Affordable Housing The standardised price across Northern Ireland in Q2 2020 ranged from £124,693 in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon district to £170,500 in Lisburn and Castlereagh district. Standardised prices and a price index for each LGD2014 can be found in the Northern Ireland Residential Property Price Index detailed statistics. In 2019/20, there were 1,515 lone penioner allowance recipients in Mid Ulster LGD2014. These are ratepayers aged 70 or over who are living alone and entitled to a 20% reduction in their rates. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Financial Year | | | | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | | Lone Pensioner Allowance Recipients aged 70+ | 1,313 | 1,348 | 1,401 | 1,515 |
| | | | | Adaptation of Accomodation On Census day 2011, there were 16,701 people aged 65+ years in Mid Ulster LGD2014 living in households: 8.6% lived in households that had been adapted or designed for wheelchair use (NI: 7.1%) 0.4% lived in households that had been adapted or designed for visual difficulties (NI: 0.5%) 0.8% lived in households that had been adapted or designed for hearing difficulties (NI: 1.2%) 12.6% lived in households that had been adapted or designed for other physical or mobility issues (NI: 12.4%) 0.2% lived in households that had been adapted or designed for other circumstances (NI: 0.4%); and 80.2% lived in households that had no adaptation (NI: 81.5%)
Note - Household accommodation that has been adapted or designed for one or more of the following; wheelchair, visual, hearing, other physical or mobility difficulties - Percentages may not sum to 100% as there may be more than one type of adaptation per household. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Social participation and social support are strongly connected to good health and well-being throughout life. Participating in leisure, social, cultural and spiritual activities in the community, as well as with the family, allows older people to continue to exercise their competence, to enjoy respect and esteem, and to maintain or establish supportive and caring relationships.
Events and Activities The Department for Communities (DfC) is responsible for questions included on the Continuous Household Survey on engagement in culture, arts and sport. Analysis of these questions for 2015/16 shows that of those aged 60 and over, there were: 28% who participated in sport; 29% who participated in arts activities; 59% who attended arts events; 20% who used the public library service; and 35% who visited a museum or science centre
all during the year prior to being asked.
The factors which appear consistently as having the most influence on an older persons engagement across the culture, arts and leisure areas are their level of educational attainment, i.e. having a degree or higher qualification; their socio-economic classification, i.e. classified as being in managerial and professional occupations; and their use of the internet. |
| | | | | Marriages There were 712 marriages registered in Mid Ulster LGD2014 in 2017. Analysis by age shows that 11 males and 3 females aged 60+ years were married in Mid Ulster LGD2014 in 2017. An interactive map of Marriages by age and sex is available to view on NINIS. Marital Status On Census day 2011, there were 17,391 people aged 65+ years living in Mid Ulster LGD2014. 11.5% of these were single, 54.2% were married or in a same sex civil partnership and 34.3% were widowed or surviving partner of a same sex civil partnership/separated/divorced or formerly in a same-sex civil partnership which is now legally dissolved. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Respect and Social Inclusion |
| | | | | The respect and social inclusion of older people depend on more than societal change: factors such as culture, gender, health status and economic status play a large role. The extent to which older people participate in the social, civic and economic life of the community is also closely linked to their experience of inclusion. Respect When respondents of the 2017 Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) Survey were asked if they think that older people are, on the whole, treated better or worse than people in the general population because of their age, NILT respondents had mixed views. Less than one fifth of people (17%) thought that older people are treated better than others, 41% the same as, and worse than (34%), the general population. People aged 65 years or over were the group most likely to think that older people are treated the same (52%) as others. Almost one in four respondents (23%) thought that, as they get older, they find that people treat them with more respect. Over half (56%) said that people treated them about the same, whilst around one in five (18%) thought that people treated them with less respect. The majority of respondents (71%) agreed that society doesn't recognise the contribution that many older people are still able to make. People aged 65 years or over were the group most likely to tagree (82%) with this statement. Social Inclusion On Census day 2011, 4,742 households in Mid Ulster LGD2014 were one person households where the resident was aged 65+ years. AgeNI is the leading charity for older people in Northern Ireland. Age NI has helped build an infrastructure of 11 Networks bringing together older people’s groups across NI to strengthen the regional voice of older people and support them to influence important decisions on local policy and services. More information on the 11 sub-regional networks can be found on the AgeNI Website Loneliness and Self-Efficacy In 2018/19, 29.1% of respondents to the Northern Ireland Continous Household Survey (CHS) aged 16+ living in Mid Ulster LGD2014 reported feeling 'more often lonely'. The comparative figure for Northern Ireland was 35.2%. Whilst a geographical breakdown by age is not available, at a Northern Ireland level, those aged 16-24 (46.3%) and those aged 75+ (43.2%) were 'more often lonely' than those aged 25-34, 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64. People with high self-efficacy are often seen as confident in their capabilities and produce sustained efforts to achieve their goals. In contrast, people with low self-efficacy often doubt their capabilities, are less ambitious and give up on their aims when challenged. In short self-efficacy is a question of resilience and those with higher self-efficacy often experience greater life satisfaction and wellbeing. In 2018/19, 22.9% of respondents to the Northern Ireland Continous Household Survey (CHS) aged 60+ living in Mid Ulster LGD2014 reported low self-efficacy. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Civic Participation and Employment |
| | | | | | Older people do not stop contributing to their communities on retirement. Many continue to provide unpaid and voluntary work for their families and communities. In some areas, economic circumstances force older people to take paid work long after they should have retired. An age-friendly community provides options for older people to continue to contribute to their communities, through paid employment or voluntary work if they so choose, and to be engaged in the political process. |
| | | | | Civic Participation
In 2011, 9.5% of those aged 65+ years in Mid Ulster LGD2014 undertook voluntary work without pay. The corresponding figure for those aged 65+ years in Northern Ireland was 10.7%. In 2011, 10.9% of those aged 65+ years in Mid Ulster LGD2014 provided unpaid care. The corresponding figure for those aged 65+ years in Northern Ireland was 12.3%. Training and Employment In 2019/20 there were a total of 20 teachers aged over 60 in Mid Ulster accounting for 1.1% of all teachers in Mid Ulster. In the 2018/19 academic year, there were 30 enrolments aged 60+ years from Mid Ulster LGD2014 at UK Higher Education Institutions. In the same year, there were 65 enrolments for those aged 60+ years from Mid Ulster LGD2014 on a regulated course in Northern Ireland Further Education Institutions. On Census Day 2011, 11.7% (2,035) of those aged 65 + years in Mid Ulster LGD2014 were economically active and 88.3% (15,356) economically inactive. Of those who were economically active , 490 work full-time, 414 work part-time, 1,100 were self-employed and 31 were unemployed. |
| | | | | | Qualifications In Mid Ulster LGD2014 on Census day 2011, there were 17,391 people aged 65+ years. Of these, 11.1% had achieved Level 4 or higher qualifications, while 73.4% had no qualifications. In Northern Ireland, 63.7% of people aged 65+ years had no qualifications. Benefits In 2020, 20,410 people living in Mid Ulster LGD2014 were receiving state pension. In the same year 5,790 living in Mid Ulster LGD2014 received pension credit. State Pension age increased from 60 to 65 for women between May 2010 and November 2018 and is increased from 65 to 66 for both men and women between November 2018 and October 2020. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Communication and Information |
| | | | | | | Staying connected with events and people and getting timely, practical information to manage life and meet personal needs is vital for active ageing. |
| | | | | | Access to the Internet Libraries have access to computers and the Internet for free or at very cheap rates. Locational information on libraries is available to view on NINIS. LibrariesNI, in partnership with Business in the Community, NI Direct Digital Inclusion Unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel, hold free annual IT taster sessions for the over 50s in a number of selected libraries across Northern Ireland on Silver Surfers' Day. This covers creating an e-mail account, using e-mail and browsing the internet. There are 98 libraries in Northern Ireland - 7 of these are located in Mid Ulster LGD2014. Figures from the Labour Force Survey from January-March 2019 reveal that 46.0% of people aged 65+ living in Northern Ireland have never accessed the Internet. In 2019/20, only 40% of respondents to the Northern Ireland Continous Household Survey (CHS) aged 65+ reported using online channels to access public services. This was significantly lower than all other age groups. |
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