Multimorbidity as assessed by reporting of multiple causes of death: variations by period, sociodemographic characteristics and place of death among older decedents in England and Wales, 2001-2017.

Background Multimorbidity is common at older ages and is associated with disability, frailty and poor quality of life. Research using clinical databases and surveys has shown associations between multimorbidity and indicators of social disadvantage. Use of multiple coded death registration data has been proposed as an additional source which may also provide insights into quality of death certification. Methods We investigate trends in reporting multiple causes of death during 2001–2017 among decedents aged 65 years and over included in a census-based sample of 1% of the England and Wales population (Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study). Using Poisson regression analysis, we analyse variations in number of mentions of causes of death recorded by time period, place of death, age, sex and marital status at death and indicators of health status and individual and area socioeconomic disadvantage reported at the census prior to death. Results Number of mentions of causes recorded at death registration increased 2001–2017, increased with age, peaking among decedents aged 85–9 years, and was positively associated with indicators of prior disadvantage and poor health, although effects were small. Number of mentions was highest for hospital decedents and similar for those dying in care homes or their own homes. Conclusion Socioeconomic disadvantage, prior poor health, dying in hospital and older age—although not extreme old age—are associated with dying with more recorded conditions. Results may reflect both differences in multimorbidity at death and variations in quality of medical certification of death. Quality of death certification for decedents in care homes needs further investigation

Households and families: implications of changing census definitions for analyses using the ONS Longitudinal Study.

The ONS Longitudinal Study (LS) includes information from the 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2011 censuses. This article explains definitional differences over time, and their implications for household and family classifications.List of tables, 65

Changes in the distribution of marital age differences in England and Wales, 1963 to 1998

Assumptions about the 'typical' age gap between spouses underlie much social policy (e.g. the five-year difference in men's and women's state pension ages). In order to test the basis for these assumptions, detailed marriage registration statistics were obtained for 1963 and 1998, for England and Wales. Age differences between spouses were calculated and analysed by year, age at marriage and previous marital status. The median age gap hardly changed between 1963 and 1998 but this concealed considerable increase in the proportion of marriages where the man was younger than the woman or--to a lesser extent--where the man was six or more years older

Grandparenting in Europe: family policy and grandparents’ role in providing childcare

Across Europe increased life expectancy means it is now quite common for a child to grow up while their grandparents and even great grandparents are alive. Grandparents have always provided financial, emotional and practical care and support to their children and grandchildren. However, this role has generally been taken for granted by families and governments, and grandparents have little recognition and few rights. This study examines international data from European countries on grandparenting from SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), ELSA (the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing), censuses and other data sources in addition to mapping data on parental and grandparental policies for leave and flexible work, family support from the state in the form of childcare and family benefits, retirement and adult care policies, and labour market, childcare and family cultures and structures, to address what grandparenting in Europe looks like. Download the full report