England’s population is ageing. In the next 25 years, the number of people older than 85 will double to 2.6 million. Does the ageing population mean an inevitable rise in demand and the costs of care? As this report explores, the reality is more subtle and complex.

This analysis, produced before the COVID-19 pandemic, explores the social care needs of adults aged 18–64. The debate about social care reform is often focused on issues facing older people, but younger adults are a large and growing part of the adult social care system, often with very different needs and experiences to older people...