Older people are subject to "patronising and thoughtless" attitudes from some doctors and carers, according to an evaluation by NHS watchdogs of the government's progress on improving support for the elderly.

The report is published ahead of the release on Wednesday of results of the King's Fund inquiry into care for the elderly, carried out by Sir Derek Wanless, whose previous review of the NHS influenced the government to radically increase funding. The Wanless report will suggest the government increases spending on services for older people so that England can follow the Scottish model of providing free personal care, including meals on wheels and help with hygiene to help older people remain in their own homes.

Today's report, Living Well in Later Life, published jointly by the Healthcare Commission, the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection, highlights progress made in helping older people to avoid nursing homes. But it also documents care problems in hospitals, including moving older people from ward to ward, a lack of help during mealtimes, and too little care after they leave hospital.

The report says there is evidence of ageism across all services. "This ranges from patronising and thoughtless treatment from staff, to failure of some mainstream public services such as transport, to take the needs and aspirations of older people seriously."

The Wanless report will reveal that the over-85 population is set to grow by two thirds over the next 20 years, and will need increasing support from health and social care services. The care services minister, Liam Byrne, said that there needed to be a change in attitude to older people to respect their needs. "This report recognises how successful we have been in wiping out age discrimination and ensuring old people get the treatment they deserve," he said. "Now we need to make sure that this treatment is delivered with respect for their dignity."