The Department of Health (DH) commissioned the Centre for Policy on Ageing (CPA) to undertake a review from the literature to determine whether older people in the United Kingdom are treated less favourably than younger users of social care in the way resources are allocated, needs are assessed, care is planned and services are delivered. Younger users are defined, in this context, as working age adults, i.e. 18‐64 years of age and older people are defined as over 65 years of age.