'The Aged Poor in England and Wales'

By the end of the 19th century, there was a growing concern about poverty among elderly people. For example, a directive issued by the Local Government Board (the successor to the Poor Law Board) required Poor Law unions to provide more comfortable accommodation for older people in need of assistance.

Charles Booth's The Aged Poor in England and Wales was published in June 1894. It was an attempt to better understand the demographics of those receiving Poor Law assistance.

Booth found that, in the early 1890s, approximately 29% of old people (defined as over the age of 65) received some form of Poor Law relief. 8.5% received indoor relief (ie in the workhouse) and 19% received some form of outdoor relief.