The focus of this report is understanding the nature and prevalence of unmet social care needs, and understanding what causes and links there are with well-being.

Key findings

• This widespread level of need indicates the impacts of pressures on the social care system, and affect those eligible for local authority financial support as well as self-funders.
• Those in their 50s and 60s, living alone or experiencing widowhood are most likely to have future care needs that are not met.
• There are no clear links between unmet need and wellbeing, perhaps because receiving care has both positive and negative impacts on wellbeing.

The project involved two stages: secondary analysis of HSE and ELSA data, and in-depth narrative interviews with older people. This report presents the findings from the secondary analysis.