Preventative Care Could Save The UK £11.1 Billion & Add Up To Seven Years Of Healthy Life
Experts from Sentai, a conversational AI voice companion tool, are working for greater focus on preventative approaches to ageing that could save billions and transform lives.
Research from the Local Government Association shows that every £1 invested in preventative social care delivers £3.17 in savings, with the potential to reduce costs to the tune of £11.1 billion if scaled nationwide¹. These savings come from avoided hospital admissions, reduced future care costs, and delaying the onset of frailty and chronic illness.
The human benefits are equally compelling. Globally, physical inactivity is linked to at least 3.9 million premature deaths annually, while studies show that incorporating regular activity such as walking can add up to seven years of life expectancy.
Paul Statham, CEO of Sentai Comments “Prevention is one of the most powerful tools we have. By investing early, whether through better housing, access to activity, or smart technologies like Sentai, helping older adults stay independent at home. We can help people live longer, healthier lives while also easing the pressure on overstretched health and care systems. Ageing should be celebrated as a time of independence and contribution, not decline and cost.”
Yet clear inequalities remain. Where you live and the quality of your home can make the difference between a healthy, active later life and one cut short by preventable illness. Men in Hart, Hampshire, can expect to live almost 10 years longer than men in Blackpool, while around 2.3 million older people in England live in homes that actively harm their health whether through cold, damp, or unsafe conditions. These disparities underline that ageing well is not simply about biology, but also about social and environmental conditions that shape health outcomes across the country.
Prevention is key to reshaping the story of later life. By acting now, the UK can ensure more people age well, with dignity, joy and independence.
