Adult social care – long term support

Published

Last updated 12 June 2023 - see all updates

1. Main facts and figures

  • between 2016 and 2021, the number of adults receiving long term support went down from 653,070 to 620,960

  • the percentage of adults receiving long term support who were from Asian ethnic groups went up from 4.4% to 5.1%

  • the percentage of adults receiving long term support who were from black ethnic groups went up from 3.8% to 4.5%

  • in 2021, a higher percentage of adults in a community or prison setting were Asian and black (6.4% and 5.3%) than in nursing (2.0% and 3.0%) or residential settings (1.8% and 2.2%)

  • in 2021, a higher percentage of adults in a residential setting were white (90.7%) than a community or prison setting (80.6%)

2. Things you need to know

The data on this page measures the number of adults receiving long-term support as at 31 March between the years 2016 to 2021.

The support setting is either:

  • nursing – someone living in a registered care home receiving nursing care

  • residential – live-in accommodation, with 24 hour-a-day supervised staffing for residents, who may need extra help and support with their care

  • community – someone living independently (including those in small group homes, sheltered housing or warden-supported accommodation) receiving home or community based services

  • prison – someone in prison receiving long-term support

In the data on this page, the ‘community or prison’ support setting is combined due to the small number of people receiving support in prison.

Data is only shown from 31 March 2016 because the previous year’s data was the first submission and has known data quality issues.

Total numbers disaggregated by ethnicity may not exactly match the aggregated year-end numbers. This is because there are slight differences between headline figures and those where an extra level of disaggregation is added. This is usually due to data quality issues that happen when adding this level of detail.

Numbers are rounded to the nearest 5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place, so some totals may not add up to 100%.

Not included in the data

The data does not include people who are not supported by a local authority. People who fund their own care are not included unless they ask the council to arrange or review their care.

Data is not shown for any values less than 5. This is to protect people’s confidentiality and because the numbers involved are too small to make reliable generalisations.

The ethnic groups used in the data

The data uses the 18 ethnic groups from the 2011 Census.

If someone does not give their ethnicity, it is recorded as ‘refused’ or ‘undeclared’. The data on this page combines these 2 categories where ethnicity is not known into ‘unknown’.

Ethnicity was unknown for 4.9% of people receiving long-term support as of 31 March 2021. This has increased from 2.4% on 31 March 2016.

Methodology

Read the detailed methodology document for this data. Activity data is collected through the ‘Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities’ SALT return. Local authorities that submit the data to NHS Digital are responsible for its accuracy. The returns are aggregate collections taken from administrative systems, and because NHS Digital does not have access to the individual records behind those collections, it relies on local authorities to assess the quality of its own data.

3. By ethnicity over time

Number and percentage of adults receiving long-term support, by ethnicity over time
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Ethnicity 2016 Number 2016 % 2017 Number 2017 % 2018 Number 2018 % 2019 Number 2019 % 2020 Number 2020 % 2021 Number 2021 %
Asian 28,855 4.4 30,295 4.6 30,780 4.8 31,860 5.0 31,985 5.1 31,780 5.1
Bangladeshi 2,645 0.4 2,740 0.4 2,855 0.4 3,125 0.5 3,265 0.5 3,380 0.5
Chinese 1,180 0.2 1,165 0.2 1,190 0.2 1,215 0.2 1,165 0.2 1,210 0.2
Indian 10,875 1.7 11,500 1.8 11,475 1.8 11,725 1.8 11,460 1.8 11,020 1.8
Pakistani 7,675 1.2 8,125 1.2 8,310 1.3 8,660 1.4 8,810 1.4 8,740 1.4
Asian other 6,480 1.0 6,765 1.0 6,950 1.1 7,140 1.1 7,285 1.2 7,430 1.2
Black 24,565 3.8 26,045 4.0 25,405 4.0 26,545 4.2 26,690 4.2 28,035 4.5
Black African 6,690 1.0 7,540 1.2 7,520 1.2 8,565 1.3 8,960 1.4 9,725 1.6
Black Caribbean 13,360 2.0 13,900 2.1 12,965 2.0 12,775 2.0 12,345 2.0 13,255 2.1
Black other 4,515 0.7 4,600 0.7 4,920 0.8 5,205 0.8 5,385 0.9 5,055 0.8
Mixed 4,815 0.7 5,405 0.8 5,920 0.9 6,380 1.0 7,395 1.2 7,615 1.2
Mixed White/Asian 840 0.1 960 0.1 955 0.1 985 0.2 1,035 0.2 1,130 0.2
Mixed White/Black African 510 0.1 565 0.1 580 0.1 595 0.1 655 0.1 680 0.1
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 1,505 0.2 1,600 0.2 1,985 0.3 2,050 0.3 2,050 0.3 1,840 0.3
Mixed other 1,960 0.3 2,280 0.3 2,405 0.4 2,750 0.4 3,660 0.6 3,960 0.6
White 573,670 87.8 569,095 86.8 552,260 86.1 544,905 85.4 533,620 84.7 517,060 83.3
White British 546,370 83.7 542,655 82.8 528,310 82.4 521,025 81.7 509,830 80.9 494,380 79.6
White Irish 9,600 1.5 8,085 1.2 7,425 1.2 7,430 1.2 6,960 1.1 6,525 1.1
White Gypsy/Traveller 185 0.0 280 0.0 320 0.1 230 0.0 230 0.0 265 0.0
White other 17,510 2.7 18,075 2.8 16,200 2.5 16,225 2.5 16,600 2.6 15,890 2.6
Other 5,295 0.8 5,795 0.9 5,980 0.9 5,865 0.9 6,320 1.0 6,190 1.0
Arab 325 0.0 505 0.1 445 0.1 470 0.1 490 0.1 515 0.1
Any other 4,975 0.8 5,290 0.8 5,535 0.9 5,395 0.8 5,830 0.9 5,675 0.9
Unknown 15,870 2.4 18,765 2.9 20,815 3.2 22,435 3.5 24,035 3.8 30,275 4.9

Download table data for ‘By ethnicity over time’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity over time’ (CSV)

Summary of Adult social care – long term support By ethnicity over time Summary

The data shows that as at 31 March in 2016 and 2021:

  • the percentage of adults receiving long-term support who were white went down from 87.8% to 83.3%, with a corresponding increase in the percentage of adults in all ethnic minority groups (excluding white minorities)

  • the number of white Irish adults receiving long-term support went down 32.0% from 9,600 to 6,525 - this was the largest decrease of all ethnic groups

  • the number of adults in the mixed other ethnic group receiving long-term support more than doubled from 1,960 to 3,960 – the largest increase of all ethnic groups

  • the white ethnic group had the highest proportion of people aged over 60 years old (25%) in the 2011 census – this could partially explain why there were higher proportions of white adults in long-term social care

  • the number of adults in long-term social care with unknown ethnicity almost doubled from 15,870 to 30,275

4. By ethnicity and gender

Number and percentage of adults receiving long-term support, by ethnicity and gender
Female Male
Ethnicity Female Number Female % Male Number Male %
Asian 18,060 5.1 13,720 5.2
Bangladeshi 1,965 0.6 1,415 0.5
Chinese 655 0.2 555 0.2
Indian 6,545 1.8 4,475 1.7
Pakistani 4,870 1.4 3,875 1.5
Asian other 4,030 1.1 3,400 1.3
Black 14,925 4.2 13,110 5.0
Black African 5,105 1.4 4,620 1.7
Black Caribbean 7,315 2.1 5,940 2.2
Black other 2,505 0.7 2,550 1.0
Mixed 3,785 1.1 3,830 1.4
Mixed White/Asian 520 0.1 615 0.2
Mixed White/Black African 315 0.1 365 0.1
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 885 0.2 955 0.4
Mixed other 2,065 0.6 1,895 0.7
White 299,370 83.9 217,690 82.4
White British 286,110 80.2 208,270 78.8
White Irish 3,880 1.1 2,645 1.0
White Gypsy/Traveller 140 0.0 125 0.0
White other 9,240 2.6 6,650 2.5
Other 3,260 0.9 2,930 1.1
Arab 275 0.1 240 0.1
Any other 2,985 0.8 2,690 1.0
Unknown 17,210 4.8 13,070 4.9

Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and gender’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and gender’ (CSV)

Summary of Adult social care – long term support By ethnicity and gender Summary

The data shows that in 2021:

  • of all women receiving long-term support, 80.2% were white British, 2.6% were in the white other ethnic group, and 2.1% were black Caribbean

  • of all men receiving long-term support, 78.8% were white British, 2.5% were in the white other ethnic group, and 2.2% were black Caribbean

5. By ethnicity and support setting

Number and percentage of adults receiving long-term support, by ethnicity and support setting
Community/Prison Nursing Residential
Ethnicity Community/Prison Number Community/Prison % Nursing Number Nursing % Residential Number Residential %
Asian 28,605 6.4 935 2.0 2,240 1.8
Bangladeshi 3,170 0.7 50 0.1 160 0.1
Chinese 925 0.2 80 0.2 205 0.2
Indian 9,745 2.2 380 0.8 895 0.7
Pakistani 8,250 1.8 130 0.3 365 0.3
Asian other 6,515 1.5 295 0.6 620 0.5
Black 23,945 5.3 1,385 3.0 2,705 2.2
Black African 8,755 1.9 355 0.8 615 0.5
Black Caribbean 10,805 2.4 830 1.8 1,620 1.3
Black other 4,385 1.0 200 0.4 470 0.4
Mixed 6,305 1.4 300 0.6 1,010 0.8
Mixed White/Asian 930 0.2 35 0.1 170 0.1
Mixed White/Black African 580 0.1 20 0.0 80 0.1
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 1,545 0.3 55 0.1 245 0.2
Mixed other 3,250 0.7 195 0.4 520 0.4
White 361,905 80.6 41,335 88.9 113,825 90.7
White British 345,470 76.9 39,385 84.7 109,530 87.3
White Irish 4,335 1.0 700 1.5 1,490 1.2
White Gypsy/Traveller 200 0.0 25 0.0 45 0.0
White other 11,905 2.7 1,225 2.6 2,760 2.2
Other 5,205 1.2 290 0.6 690 0.6
Arab 475 0.1 15 0.0 25 0.0
Any other 4,730 1.1 275 0.6 665 0.5
Unknown 23,030 5.1 2,225 4.8 5,025 4.0

Download table data for ‘By ethnicity and support setting’ (CSV) Source data for ‘By ethnicity and support setting’ (CSV)

Summary of Adult social care – long term support By ethnicity and support setting Summary

The data shows that:

  • white British adults made up 76.9% of those in a community or prison setting, 84.7% in a nursing setting and 87.3% in a residential setting

  • a higher percentage of adults in a community or prison setting were Asian and black (6.4% and 5.3%) than in nursing (2.0% and 3.0%) or residential settings (1.8% and 2.2%)

  • a higher percentage of adults in a residential setting were white (90.7%) than a community or prison setting (80.6%)

6. Data sources

Source

Type of data

Administrative data

Type of statistic

Official statistics

Publisher

NHS Digital

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

This data is collected as part of the Short and Long Term (SALT) data collection. SALT is designed to track people's journeys through the social care system.

When someone makes a request for support, they may be given short-term support to maximise their independence, for example, a reablement service. They could also be referred for long-term support like being admitted to a care home or be given assistive equipment for ongoing, low-level support.

This data specifically relates to people receiving long-term support. Long-term support is defined as any service or support provided to someone on an ongoing basis to maintain their quality of life.

The SALT return means data from local authorities can be compared, while reliable aggregation provides national and regional overviews.

7. Download the data

Adult social care data 2016-2021 - Spreadsheet (csv) 109 KB

This file contains the following: measure, support setting, ethnicity, time, gender, number, value, value_type