Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

This study is part of the Growing Older: Extending Quality of Life research programme funded by the ESRC. The research for this study has sought to generate new insights into the experience of inequality in later life. It has examined aspects relating to the quality of life of older people living in areas of intense social deprivation, and has developed understanding of factors contributing to social inclusion and exclusion in later life. The aims and objectives, which have not changed since the original proposal, have been to: Contribute to knowledge about the circumstances of older people living in areas of concentrated poverty, examining the specific characteristics of social exclusion as it affects different groups within the older population; Explore ways in which older people manage their daily lives in deprived urban environments. The research has addressed how individuals handle the multiple risks associated with living in such localities, along with the survival strategies and support networks that develop; Develop research methods relevant to studying quality of life issues for older people living in areas of concentrated poverty. The research seeks to contribute to the development of research techniques designed to measure poverty, social deprivation and social exclusion; Identify forms of deprivation which have yet to be addressed fully in gerontological and social policy research; Examine the dynamics of social exclusion at a neighbourhood-level, and the implications of this for social policy.

Main Topics:

The dataset arises from a survey of 600 people aged 60 and over living in deprived electoral wards in Liverpool, Manchester and the London Borough of Newham. The survey collected, first, socio-demographic data about the circumstances of older people living in deprived areas and second, information relating to themes of social exclusion and quality of life, including: characteristics of poverty and its impact on daily life; networks (including support networks) of older people; patterns of support within the older population and with other social groups; quality of life of older people (using standardised measures of psychological well-being); characteristics of social participation within deprived localities; experiences of the urban environment in relation to services, crime, transportation and related issues. Standard Measures Quality of life: Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (Lawton) Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener) Loneliness: De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale

Simple random sample

Purposive selection/case studies

501 individuals were recruited from electoral registers using CACI Ltd's MONICA classification

Face-to-face interview