Balsall Common demographic profile of the elderly population

FOI REF: FOI-2023-1267

You asked

I am writing to request data related to the demographic profile of the elderly population within the area of Balsall Common. If information specific to Balsall Common is unavailable, I kindly request the same data for a 10-mile radius of CV7 7FX or for the Borough of Solihull. In particular, I am interested in the following data:

1. The current number of residents aged 65 and over in Balsall Common or the aforementioned areas.

2. Historical data, if available, of the elderly population within these areas for the past 10 years.

3. Projections for the growth of the elderly population in these areas for the next 10 to 20 years.

4. The elderly dependency ratio (i.e. the number of people of retirement age for each person of working age) in these areas.

5. Any available data on the living arrangements of the elderly population in these areas (e.g., living independently, living with family, living in care homes or other elderly accommodations).

6. Data on the disability status and general health status of the elderly population in these areas.

We said

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. You can find the area Balsall Common by using the Census Maps tool.  

Balsall Common is the name given to a specific Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA) in Solihull, although the name is not an Office for National Statistics (ONS) designation but one provided by the House of Commons library to help identify statistical geographies for use in local areas.  

An extract from Census Maps which shows the population aged 65 years and over in Balsall Common can be found via the following link: Age Census Maps: Balsall Common.

This identifies the MSOA that includes Balsall Common as Solihull 025, E02002105 which we will use to provide the other data requested. 

We can also provide the same data for Solihull local authority (area code E08000029) as a whole for comparison purposes. 

1. The current number of residents aged 65 and over in Balsall Common or the aforementioned areas. 

• 2021 Census dataset TS007 – Age by single year for Balsall Common (MSOA: Solihull 025, E02002105). Please find this information in the associated download 'Population of Balsall Common and Solihull by age'.

• 2021 Census dataset TS007 - Age by single year for Solihull local authority (E08000029) 

• For Census 2021 population estimates at Output Area OA (see E00051405), Lower Layer Super Output Area LSOA (see E01010169), MSOA (see E02002105), and Local Authority LA (see E08000029) levels.

• You may use, for example, https://findthatpostcode.uk to visualise these areas (a useful website; not officially endorsed by ONS).

• Mid-2021 population estimates are available here at the LA level (see E08000029).

• Our Population Estimates Unit will publish mid-2022 population estimates at the LA level next month.

• Please note, we do not hold analysis on population estimates at the levels of postcode or postcode + n miles.

2. Historical data, if available, of the elderly population within these areas for the past 10 years. 

• 2011 Census dataset QS103EW - Age by single year (for all usual residents in Balsall Common MSOA and Solihull LA). Please find this information in the associated download 'Age by single year Balsall Common and Solihull'.

• Mid-2001 to mid-2021 population estimates are available via the main MYE data page at the LA level (see E08000029). 

• Our Population Estimates Unit are planning to publish a revised (rebased) population estimates back series for 2012 to 2021 in September. The 2012 to 2021 estimates are being revised in light of the Census 2021 data. This data specifically is therefore exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

3. Projections for the growth of the elderly population in these areas for the next 10 to 20 years.

• We produce projected population estimates down to local authority level, which for this query would be Solihull. The latest population projections for Solihull can be found in Table 2 of the following publication: 2018-based subnational population projections (rows 3,108-3,127). These go out to 25 years beyond the base year and so will cover the next 10 to 20 years.

• Unfortunately, we do not hold this information for smaller geographies, such as Balsall Common.

4. The elderly dependency ratio (i.e. the number of people of retirement age for each person of working age) in these areas.

• You can use the single year of age datasets provided above to calculate this ratio. 

• You would need to divide the 'retired age' population (65+, probably) by the 'working age' population (16-64, probably) for the chosen area. If you require any assistance with these calculations, please get in touch with us at Pop.Info@ons.gov.uk, and the team would be happy to assist.

• The projections team only produces projected old age dependency ratios (OADR) down to local authority level. 

• A further point, the Old Age Dependency Ratio is usually expressed as either the number of people aged 65 and over per 1,000 people aged 16-64 or as the number of people of state pension age and over per 1,000 people aged 16- up to SPA (Currently 16-65 and 66 and over).

5. Any available data on the living arrangements of the elderly population in these areas (e.g. living independently, living with family, living in care homes or other elderly accommodations). 

Our Create a custom dataset tool can provide some data on age and living arrangements. The tables can be generated at MSOA level (so including E02002105 Balsall Common) and/or at LA level (Solihull). Relevant variables available for selection are AGE; GENERAL HEALTH; DISABILITY; LIVING ARRANGEMENTS.

Please note that household data does not identify sheltered accommodation. Also, the communal establishment data is not broken down by type of establishment so, unfortunately, we cannot distinguish between hospitals, care home or prisons.

The relevant data can be accessed via the following links and has been provided in the associated downloads 'Solihull living arrangements' and 'Balsall Common living arrangements'.

• 2021 Census dataset 1 Accommodation type and age – usual residents in households in Balsall Common (MSOA: Solihull 025, E02002105) 

• 2021 Census dataset 1 Accommodation type and age - usual residents in households in Solihull local authority (E08000029) 

• 2021 Census dataset 2 Position in communal establishment and age – usual residents in communal establishments in Balsall Common (MSOA: Solihull 025, E02002105) 

• 2021 Census dataset 2 Position in communal establishment and age – usual residents in communal establishments in Solihull local authority (E08000029)

6. Data on the disability status and general health status of the elderly population in these areas.

• 2021 Census dataset 3 Age (b) and disability – all usual residents in Balsall Common (MSOA: Solihull 025, E02002105) 

• 2021 Census dataset 3 Age (b) and disability – all usual residents in Solihull local authority (E08000029) 

• 2021 Census dataset 4 Age (b) and general health – all usual residents in Balsall Common (MSOA: Solihull 025, E02002105) 

• 2021 Census dataset 4 Age (b) and general health – all usual residents in Solihull local authority (E08000029) 

If you need anything further, please do not hesitate to contact us. Should you require mortality data, please contact the HAPI Customer Services team at Health.Data@ons.gov.uk.