A major new index assessing quality of later life in England has placed three Merseyside authorities among the North West’s top areas for growing old, while Liverpool ranks poorly on community and safety measures. The Twilight Years Capitals index, compiled by care‑home operator Lovett Care, evaluated 294 local authority districts using 37 separate indicators grouped into six themes.
How the index was measured
The study’s 37 indicators were clustered into six core themes, each intended to capture aspects that matter for older people’s quality of life:
- Health
- Care
- Getting around without a car
- Housing and living costs
- Local environment
- Community and safety
Lovett Care produced a composite score out of 100 for each local authority district. The broader national ranking and the regional (North West) positions give an overview of how areas compare on services and infrastructure important to older residents.
North West winners and laggards
Within the North West, the index placed the following authorities highest:
| North West rank | Local authority | England rank | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westmorland and Furness | 13 | 76.6 |
| 2 | St Helens | 32 (tied) | 71.3 |
| 2 | Wirral | 32 (tied) | 71.3 |
| 10 | Warrington | 72 | 65.4 |
| 35 | Liverpool | 281 | Not provided |
St Helens and Wirral tied with a score of 71.3, putting them joint 32nd nationally. Westmorland and Furness topped the North West with a score of 76.6, placing 13th in England. Warrington came in 10th regionally with a score of 65.4.
Where specific strengths and weaknesses lie
The report highlights particular areas of strength: Wirral finished first nationally for the theme getting around without a car, signalling strong public transport and accessibility for people who do not drive. Wirral also placed second in the region for health; one indicator cited was that 51.1% of adults were seen by an NHS dentist, a proportion that ranked 11th highest in England. Fürthermore, Wirral recorded the region’s third‑lowest rate of hip fracture admissions among people aged over 65.
St Helens performed strongly on public transport and accessibility as well, ranking second nationally for getting around without a car. The authority also recorded the region’s third‑lowest share of homes off the gas grid and the third‑best gigabit broadband reach, covering 96.8% of premises.
By contrast, Liverpool’s overall placement — 35th in the region and 281st nationally — was negatively affected by low scores for community and safety. The index does not publish detailed sub‑scores for every indicator in the press summary, but the authors cite community cohesion and safety as important drivers of Liverpool’s lower overall position.
"While earlier life moves are often driven by work or schools, approaching retirement allows people to prior" — Cathryn Fairhurst, managing director operations at Lovett Care (text as provided in the index release).
What the findings mean for local policy and older residents
For councils and services, the index offers a diagnostic snapshot: transport, health access, broadband and housing features can boost an area’s suitability for older residents. High gigabit coverage and lower hip fracture rates point to combined gains in digital inclusion and preventive health services, while strong public transport reduces dependence on private cars.
For older people and their families the findings can inform decisions about where to live or where to look for care services. The index’s use of multiple indicators — from dental access to broadband coverage — underlines that quality of later life is shaped by both health and wider public infrastructure.
The Twilight Years Capitals index will likely be of interest to local authorities, health and care planners, community groups and older people considering relocation. The full methodology and detailed local scores are available from Lovett Care for those who wish to explore specific indicators further.
