BRITISH ASIANS in England and Wales are least likely to be living in care homes, according to an analysis of Census 2021 data.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Monday (9) showed that less than one per cent (0.95 per cent) of the care home population aged 65 years or more were British Asians, while the white ethnic group accounted for 97.5 per cent.
This compares with British Asians’ share of 9.3 per cent in the total population of 59.6 million in England and Wales in 2021 and 81.7 per cent for white people.
However, there was a rise in the proportion of British Asians living in care homes in 2021 compared to 2011 - the year of the previous census - when they accounted for just 0.62 per cent. The increase in the share was the largest for the ethnic group during the period.
In contrast, the proportion decreased for white people from 98.3 per cent in 2011 to 97.5 per cent in 2021.
The overall proportion of usual residents aged 65 years or more living in care homes decreased from 3.2% in 2011 to 2.5 per cent in 2021.
There were 278,946 people aged 65 years or more living in care homes in England and Wales in March 2021, accounting for 82.1 per cent of all care home residents, the ONS data showed. Those who identified themselves as belonging to a black ethnic group made up 0.96 per cent of the care home population in 2021.
There were regional variations. In 2021, London had the lowest proportion (1.9 per cent) of usual residents aged 65 years or more living in care homes, compared to the highest (2.9 per cent) in North East.
Female care home residents in the 65+ group continued to outnumber men, with 23 female residents for every 10 male residents. This compared with 28 female residents to every 10 male residents in 2021.
Similar proportions of care home residents aged 65+ lived in homes with nursing (49.4 per cent) as in homes without nursing (50.6 per cent).
In 2021, 68.2 per cent of care home residents in the age group reported they were in “very good, good, or fair” health, compared to 63.2 per cent 10 years earlier. The proportion reporting being in “bad or very bad” health dropped to 31.8 per cent in 2021 from 36.8 per cent in 2011.
British Asians least likely to live in care homes
But the rise in the proportion of care home residents was the largest for British Asians among all ethnic groups since 2011
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)