Dorset, Notices | Posted on February 5th, 2026 | return to news

Dorset survey finds concerns among older residents

Dorset Council, which has registered as an age-friendly community, has found that older people have several worries.

Older residents in Dorset would like to see a number of improvements to give them a better quality of life.

Dorset Council conducted a survey to find out how communities wanted to make the county more age-friendly, and 700 people responded.

The survey asked about people’s experiences of ageing in Dorset, using eight key areas that affect quality of life, such as housing, transport, health services, employment and social participation.

All of the responses were from people aged over 50, with the largest group of respondents being those in their 70s and 80s. The oldest person to fill in the form was 94.

Among the key issues to come out of the survey were:

People were concerned about the lack of downsizing properties, especially bungalows, in their quest to find smaller properties as they grow older.
Residents said that having a car was important to enable them to be part of their community, and that an inability to drive caused both mobility and social networking issues due to a lack of public transport.
A number of respondents said they took part in volunteering, which was important to them, but were concerned about whether younger people were prepared to step up and about levels of bureaucracy.
Around a fifth of people responding said they did not want to have everything online, although many said they had the technical knowledge to cope with the internet.
People wanted footpaths and bridleways to be kept clear to enable them to exercise safely and regularly.

Cllr Steve Robinson, Dorset Council’s Adult Social Care portfolio lead, said: “An age-friendly community is a place that recognises and values the contribution that older people make and sees ageing as something that can be enjoyed, not endured. It supports older adults to stay active, take part in local activities, and continue making a difference.

“By making our spaces and services accessible and welcoming, and by challenging stereotypes about age, the aim is to help ensure that everyone can feel included and valued as they grow older.”

The survey followed the announcement in October that Dorset had become the 100th local authority to register as an age-friendly community with the Centre for Ageing Better.

The findings of the survey will be discussed by the Age-friendly Dorset reference and working groups, which include representatives from the council, NHS Dorset, Volunteer Centre Dorset, Age UK, Help and Kindness, and others. A formal report will be published later this spring.