Researchers say they found a continuing climate of ageism in Britain, depicting older adults as a burden on community services.

Study leaders Ala Szczepura of Warwick Medical School in Coventry and Deirdre Wild from the University of the West of England in Bristol did extensive fieldwork over three years, conducting more than 100 interviews of elderly residents, relatives, staff, home managers and senior managers. The researchers looked at a voluntary sector home, a privately-owned home and a local government-owned home which all used "enhanced residential care."

"Our research shows that the future care of older people is likely to be reliant on extending the spectrum of care provided by residential homes. As residents age, their health needs inevitably increase with nearly half of residents in the homes we studied classed as needing the intervention of a registered nurse on at least a daily basis," the researchers said in a statement.

"If appropriate care cannot be provided, residents may be admitted to hospital or moved to a nursing home when this is not absolutely necessary."

Workers who care for the elderly need more training so older people can stay home and "age in place," the study said.