Death in people aged 75 years and older in England in 2017
Every year, about half a million people die in England, with two-thirds of those aged 75 and older. Because life expectancy has increased in the last 25 years and is expected to continue to rise, the number of people dying in this age group is increasing at a rapid rate.
1. Main findings
In England, dementia was a contributing or underlying cause in a quarter of deaths in 2017. The proportion of deaths caused by cancer or liver disease has increased since 2007. People from more deprived areas died at younger ages and were more likely to die in hospital.
2. Population and deaths amongst people aged 75 years and older in England
In 2017, there were 4.5 million people aged 75 and older in England, accounting for 8.2% of the population; by 2027, the total number of people in this age group in England is expected to rise to 6.1 million. In 2017, there were 498,882 deaths in England among people of all ages.
3. Causes of death amongst people aged 75 years and older in England
The leading causes of death among people aged 75 and older are shown in the table below. The cause of death is an important factor in determining where an individual dies and how they are cared for after death.
Table 1: Leading causes of death amongst people aged 75 years and older in England in 2017 and 2007
Cancer, chronic heart disease, stroke, and liver disease were recorded as ‘other’ causes of death, so some deaths may fall into more than one category. Women, across all age groups, had a higher proportion of deaths in which dementia was an underlying or contributing factor.
Figure 2: Percentage of deaths from leading causes of death amongst people aged 75 years and older in 2017, by age and sex
Deaths from dementia and COPD were recorded if they were an underlying or contributing cause of death, and are denoted by dashed lines, so some deaths may fall into more than one category.
4. Factors affecting place of death for people aged 75 years and older in England in 2017
Place of death is the final resting place of people who die in England, and it is influenced by factors such as sex, type of illness, and marital status. In 2017, 341,620 people aged 75 and over died in England’s hospitals.
Table 2: Proportion of deaths by place of death for people aged 75 years and older in England in 2017
Since 2007, the proportion of deaths in hospitals has decreased, while deaths at home and in care homes have increased. Females were more likely than males to die in locations other than those listed here (elsewhere), with a slightly higher proportion of males dying in hospices.
Figure 3: Place of death for people aged 75 years and older by age and sex
Hospices were more common for people whose underlying cause of death was cancer or liver disease, and cancer was the leading cause of death in care homes for over two-thirds of deaths in hospices.
Figure 4: Deaths in people aged 75 years and older by place of death and cause of death
Deaths from cancer, chronic heart disease, stroke, and liver disease were recorded, as were deaths from dementia and COPD if they were an underlying or contributory cause of death. Place of death differed by marital status among people aged 75 and over. Figure below shows the differences in place of death for different sexes and age groups.
How does a person die of old age?
No one dies of old age. When someone is said to have died “of old age,” it usually means that he or she died of one of the diseases that are common in our later years. As a result, older people may die from injuries or diseases that a younger person would easily survive.
What is the most common cause of death in elderly?
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease account for roughly three-quarters of all deaths in people aged 65 and up, with chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease replacing acute infections as the leading causes of death during the twentieth century.
Can you die naturally of old age?
Traditionally, government health authorities have required residents’ causes of death to be listed on death certificates. To “die of old age” means that someone has died naturally from an ailment associated with aging, and the same is usually true for “dying of natural causes.”
Is it painful to die of old age?
Reality: Pain is not an expected part of dying; in fact, some people have no pain at all. If a person’s condition does cause pain, however, it can be controlled with prescribed medications.
What time of day do most elderly die?
And, if you’re a human, you’re more likely to die in the late morning — specifically, around 11 a.m. — than at any other time of the day.
At what age do humans start dying?
Our bodies are born to die, and the decay begins after we turn 55, when our DNA begins to degenerate, increasing the risk of cancer and other diseases. Our bodies are born to die, and the decay begins after we turn 55, when our DNA begins to degenerate, increasing the risk of cancer and other diseases.
What are the first signs of your body shutting down?
The following are signs that the body is actively shutting down:
- Weak pulse.
- Changes in consciousness, sudden outbursts, unresponsiveness.
- Noisy breathing.
- Glassy eyes.
- Cold extremities.
- Purple, gray, pale, or blotchy skin on knees, feet, and hands.
- Weak pulse.
What is the leading cause of death for those 75 years of age and older?
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the leading causes of death among adults 65 and older in the United States in 2019 were heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease.
What age are you considered elderly?
According to the Social Security Administration, 9 out of 10 people over the age of 65 are eligible for Social Security benefits, and 65 is the legal age at which U.S. citizens are considered seniors.
Can you die of a broken heart?
The bad news: Broken heart syndrome can cause severe, short-term heart muscle failure. The good news: It’s usually treatable; most people who have it recover completely within weeks, and they’re at low risk of it happening again (though it can be fatal in rare cases).
How do elderly die in their sleep?
“Many older people die quietly in their sleep because their swallowing systems fail, and they inhale food, fluid, and saliva into their lungs, catching pneumonia and dying,” he explains.
Why do we age and die?
Some theories claim that cells have a predetermined lifespan, while others claim that aging is caused by error and damage, and still others claim that it is caused by genetic, evolutionary, or biochemical reactions. Aging is natural, but living a healthy lifestyle can help you live longer.
Can you hear after you die?
The brain still registers the last sounds a person will ever hear, even if the body has become unresponsive, according to new research published in June. Hearing is one of the last senses to disappear during death, according to a study published in June.
Where do you go after you die?
Your body is taken to a morgue or mortuary when you die.
Why do I feel death is near?
As a person approaches death, his or her metabolism slows, resulting in fatigue and an increased need for sleep; the increase in sleep and loss of appetite appear to go hand in hand; a decrease in eating and drinking causes dehydration, which may contribute to these symptoms.