The elderly at home: health and social status.

The health, social status and contacts with services of all people over the age of seventy-five living at home in and around Melton Mowbray was assessed by interview. Nearly half the sample (46%) lived alone, and just over a third (37%) were married. Most respondents were able to complete the basic activities of daily living without any assistance. The apparent prevalence of dementia at 1.6% was lower than had been found in previous population studies. The levels of social contact were similar to those reported previously. While service provision compared well with that found in other studies, only a relatively small proportion of the population were in receipt of nursing, paramedical and social services.