PENSIONERS face a fight for a care home place in Dorset.

A new study carried out by Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health on those 85 and over revealed that a massive increase in the need for care home places is looming in the next 20 years because of the rising numbers of over-85s in Britain.

According to the experts, in 2010 there were 2.6 million people aged over 80. By 2030, the figure is expected to be 4.8 million.

The age group is the fastest growing demographic in the country, not least in Bournemouth, where 22.4 per cent of the population are retirement age and above.

Bournemouth has the highest level of elderly people in the country, 3.2 per cent higher than the national average.

David Leighton, chief officer at Age UK Bournemouth, said: “We believe that there is a shortage of care home places, particularly at the more affordable end.

“More places will be needed, especially those able to care for people with specific needs such as the later stages of dementia where the shortage is particularly acute.”

The survey stated that 630,000 extra places in care homes are needed by 2030 in order to cope.

Bournemouth has only 2,600 care home places. A third of those are owned by the council, while the rest are owned by other authorities and private individuals.

Cllr Lynda Price, cabinet member for health and social services, told the Daily Echo: “We will be encouraging the elderly to stay in their own homes. It is an ideal environment for them. We want to work to increase this possibility using new technology.

“More carers will be needed to ensure that those at home are not isolated. The council are committed to increasing facilities and spending for the elderly. With the current changes proposed in the NHS, it would be beneficial to have GPs and other voluntary agencies involved, as they know their patients.”

Carol Jagger, AXA Professor of Epidemiology of Ageing at Newcastle University and joint author of the paper, said: “More people than we imagined can look after themselves to a large extent, which is encouraging.”

A Department of Health spokesman added: “Most older people want to stay supported in their own homes for as long as possible. The extra £2 billion we have given to councils will help them care for older people in an environment that’s best for them, not necessarily in a care home.”