Variations in care for the elderly in Wales.

The counties of Wales were examined and relationships sought between the socioeconomic status and the per caput expenditure on health and social services by each county, the services provided for the elderly and their outcome measured as a standardised mortality ratio and a simple measure of long-term disability. Counties with a high socioeconomic status provided more residential services, those with low status more home helps. There were no other significant relationships between provision of services and status, nor any correlation between provision of services and expenditure. There was an inverse relationship between high status and the mortality and disability measures. In general at county level the social services appear to be responding more appropriately to the needs of the elderly than the health services.