The number of older people living the UK is rising and with this comes an increasing complexity of care needs. In terms of increases to the number and proportion of older people in the UK population, the percentage of persons aged 65 and over rose from 15% in 1985 to 17% in 2010 (an increase of 1.7 million people) (Office for National statistics[ONS], 2008). By 2035, it is projected that those aged 65 and over will account for 23% of the total population (ONS, 2012).