Map of the week: Long term illness
My map of the week reflects on the quality of life of the elderly - and a stark picture emerges.
The map focuses on people aged between 60 and 74 who were asked whether they had "a limiting long-term illness (LLTI), health problem or disability which limits your daily activities or the work you can do, including problems that are due to old age".
The north-south divide is obvious with the poorest health in the once-booming industrial areas of South Wales, north west and north east England and the west of Scotland. I also note a C shape of relatively healthy elderly in the affluent region to the west of London. Apologies to Northern Ireland, for whom we don't have data.
In the light blue hexagons, places like Henley, Sevenoaks and Guildford rural, those aged between 60 and 74 have something like a three in four chance of not suffering from a condition that limits their daily activies. But in the dark red places like Glasgow Parkhead and the valleys of Rhondda, Rhymney and Merthyr Tydfil the chance is down to one in three.
In most places, rates of LLTI are higher for men than women. There are a few exceptions, mostly in more affluent neighbourhoods.
I am tempted to suggest that the map is a legacy of lifestyle and income distribution since the war. But should we feel angry about this inequality?
I'm 
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