A report by a committee of peers said that the government seemed for the first time to be taking the scientific aspects of ageing seriously.
Source: Ageing: Scientific Aspects - Second follow-up report, First Report (Session 2005-06), HL 7, House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Dec
An article reported the findings of a qualitative study about the experience of ageing. Most older people did not describe themselves as old. They challenged the idea of older people as being past it . Older people who personified their own values of inter-dependence, reciprocity, and 'keeping going' were seen as heroic: but negative stereotypes were ascribed simultaneously to others.
Source: Jean Townsend, Mary Godfrey and Tracy Denby, 'Heroines, villains and victims: older people's perceptions of others', Ageing and Society, Volume 26 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Nov
A report said that rural areas along the coast were at the forefront of demographic ageing. It proposes two models - the pre-retirement model and the retirement industry model - which represented positive, pro-active strategies to maximize the benefits of this demographic shift.
Source: Jane Atterton, Ageing and Coastal Communities, Centre for Rural Economy/University of Newcastle (0191 222 6623)
Links: Report | CRE press release
Date: 2006-Nov
A large-scale research programme on ageing was launched, called the 'New Dynamics of Ageing Programme'. The programme was a collaboration between five of the United Kingdom's Research Councils. It was designed to target research resources at all dimensions of ageing, from biological to social and cultural aspects.
Source: Press release 30 October 2006, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: ESRC press release
Date: 2006-Oct
An article provided a policy-oriented overview of a large-scale programme of research into the quality of life in old age (the ESRC Growing Older Programme).
Source: Alan Walker, 'Extending quality life: policy prescriptions from the Growing Older Programme', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 35 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Aug
An Act creating a Commissioner for Older People in Wales was given Royal assent, following a third reading of the Bill.
Source: Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Act 2006, Wales Office, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 19 July 2006, columns 406-422, TSO
Links: Text of Act | Explanatory notes to Bill | Wales Office press release | HOC brief
Date: 2006-Jul
A study examined how and why older people chose to volunteer. More than half of the volunteers interviewed said putting their spare time to good use was the main reason for volunteering. The most typical way older people became volunteers was via word-of-mouth, and friendship with people who already volunteer was one of the most important reasons for getting involved.
Source: Susan Baines, Mabel Lie and Jane Wheelock, Volunteering, Self-help and Citizenship in Later Life, Newcastle University (0191 222 6067) and Age Concern Newcastle
Links: Report | Age Concern press release
Date: 2006-Jul
A study examined how and why older people became involved in developing a range of policy and planning initiatives. The schemes included a group which set up care services for older people, and a citizen s jury which developed policy for older people. Older people took part because they wanted to make a difference not just as a way to pass the time.
Source: Jan Reed, Glenda Cook, Vera Bolter and Barbara Douglas, Older People Getting Things Done : Involvement in policy and planning initiatives, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Date: 2006-Jul
A new book examined crime and ageing. It considered older people as both victims and perpetrators of crime, and looked at the conditions faced by older prisoners. The needs of elders needed to be given greater prominence on the penal policy agenda.
Source: Azrini Wahidin and Maureen Cain (eds.), Ageing, Crime and Society, Willan Publishing (01884 840337)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jul
A report brought together key statistics about ageing, including underlying changes in fertility and mortality rates. It examined the changing marital status of the older population; the proportions of older people with children; and patterns of interaction between older people and their relatives.
Source: Jane Falkingham and Emily Grundy, Demographic Aspects of Population Ageing, Economic and Social Research Council (01793 413000)
Links: Report | ESRC press release
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined how the landscape of social exclusion was likely to change over the next 5-15 years, and the policy implications of these changes. It also highlighted the most promising policy options in seeking to combat social exclusion among older people.
Source: Alan Walker, Matt Barnes, Kate Cox and Carli Lessof, Social Exclusion of Older People: Future trends and policies, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jun
An article examined the relationship between perceived neighbourhood environment, social contact and support, and the health of older people. Perceptions of good-quality facilities in the area, high levels of neighbourliness, and perceptions of problems in the area (such as noise or crime), were all predictive of poorer health.
Source: Ann Bowling, Julie Barber, Richard Morris and Shah Ebrahim, 'Do perceptions of neighbourhood environment influence health? Baseline findings from a British survey of aging', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 60 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jun
A report examined different forms of disadvantage experienced by older people living in diverse rural settings. It addressed the experience of disadvantage across the lifecourse, and the impacts of such disadvantage on rural older people s quality of life.
Source: Thomas Scharf and Bernadette Bartlam, Rural Disadvantage: Quality of life and disadvantage amongst older people a pilot study, Commission for Rural Communities/Countryside Agency (020 7340 2900)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Apr
A report said that older people were increasingly economically active in rural areas, where part-time work gave them the opportunity to work more flexibly before and in retirement. Most people aged over 65 in rural areas continued to lead active social and domestic lives. Rather than create villages of highly dependent residents, the ageing of the population could help build dynamic and independent communities.
Source: Philip Lowe and Lydia Speakman, The Ageing Countryside: The growing population of rural Britain, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200) and Commission for Rural Communities
Links: Summary | Age Concern press release
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined an attempt to determine attributes for a new index focusing directly on quality of life for older people, rather than health or other specific influences on quality of life.
Source: Ini Grewal et al., 'Developing attributes for a generic quality of life measure for older people: preferences or capabilities?', Social Science & Medicine Volume 62 Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article examined whether longstanding illnesses, social context, and current socio-economic circumstances predicted quality of life in old age. Efforts to improve quality of life in early old age needed to address financial hardships, functionally limiting disease, lack of at least one trusting relationship, and inability to move out of a disfavoured neighbourhood. But the quality of life was above average between the ages of 50 and 84, and in some cases increased compared with earlier years.
Source: Gopalakrishnan Netuveli, Richard Wiggins, Zoe Hildon, Scott Montgomery and David Blane, 'Quality of life at older ages: evidence from the English longitudinal study of aging (wave 1)', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 60 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Apr
An article said that the various problems of structured dependency' by older people persisted in the early part of the 21st century, and seemed set to grow in many parts of the world. Human rights offered a framework for tackling this problem: but success depended on good operational measurement, and the incorporation of international and national institutions and policies that reflected those rights.
Source: Peter Townsend, 'Policies for the aged in the 21st century: more structured dependency or the realisation of human rights?', Ageing and Society, Volume 26 Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Mar
The Scottish Executive began consultation on ways to harness the contribution and experience of older people, and ensure services met their needs.
Source: Age and Experience: Developing the strategy for a Scotland with an ageing population, Scottish Executive (0131 556 8400)
Links: Consultation document | SE press release
Date: 2006-Mar
An article said that the 'oldest old' - people aged 85 and over - were the fastest rising age group. Their numbers had grown by 84 per cent between 1981 and 2004, to over 1.1 million. Between 1991 and 2001 the proportion of those aged over 85 living in communal establishments had fallen.
Source: Cecilia Tomassini, 'The oldest old in Great Britain: change over the last 20 years', Population Trends 123, Spring 2006, Office for National Statistics, Palgrave Macmillan (01256 329242)
Links: Article | ONS press release
Date: 2006-Mar
A report examined government policy and action on ageing issues. Fewer than 50 per cent of older people were registered with an National Health Service dentist; the take-up of council tax benefit had not improved; and the number of excess winter deaths had increased. But the number of delayed discharges from hospital was down; and employment rates for older people were slowly increasing.
Source: The Age Agenda 2006: Public policy and older people, Age Concern England (020 8765 7200)
Links: Report | Age Concern press release
Date: 2006-Mar
A working paper said that loneliness was one of the most challenging problems facing elderly people. Increased resources for befriending services and mixed-age community centres, sheltered housing or a wider age range, cheaper telephone charges, and access to e-mail could revolutionize life for the over-eighties.
Source: Anne Gray, Growing Old in a London Borough: The shrinking personal community and how volunteers help to maintain it, Families & Social Capital ESRC Research Group/South Bank University (020 7815 5750)
Links: Working paper | FSC press release
Date: 2006-Mar
Two linked reports examined a research project into older people s views on services, which involved older people themselves as researchers.
Source: Roger Clough, Bert Green, Barbara Hawkes, Gwyneth Raymond and Les Bright, Older People as Researchers: Evaluating a participative project, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033) | Mary Leamy and Roger Clough, How Older People Became Researchers: Training, guidance and practice in action, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Report 1 | Summary 1 | Report 2 | Summary 2
Date: 2006-Feb
A study used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (a large-scale survey of people aged 50 and over) to strengthen knowledge about the particular experiences of social exclusion among older people.
Source: Matt Barnes, Annelies Blom, Kate Cox and Carli Lessof, The Social Exclusion of Older People: Evidence from the first wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Social Exclusion Unit/Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 5550)
Links: Report
Date: 2006-Jan
The government published a cross-departmental action plan, designed to improve delivery of key services to disadvantaged people aged over 50. One-stop shops for older people would be piloted, based on the Sure Start family services model. The programme would be called 'Link-Age Plus'.
Source: A Sure Start to Later Life: Ending inequalities for older people, Social Exclusion Unit/Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 5550)
Links: Report | ODPM press release | Age Concern press release
Date: 2006-Jan
The government published a discussion paper that examined the steps needed to meet the challenges of an ageing population.
Source: Preparing for our Ageing Society: A Discussion Paper, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Discussion paper
Date: 2006-Jan
An independent review examined how the government engaged with older people. The recommendations included: establishing a national advisory forum for older people, to be chaired or co-chaired by the lead Minister for older people and supported by regional advisory forums; enhancing the role that regional Government Offices played in supporting and developing engagement with older people; setting up regional forums to support local authorities to develop effective engagement strategies so that a truly diverse range of older people's voices could be heard.
Source: John Elbourne, Review of Older People's Engagement with Government, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Report | Hansard | DWP press release
Date: 2006-Jan
An article examined whether there were differences in the nature and extent of loneliness amongst older men and women. The overall self-reported prevalence of severe loneliness showed little difference between men and women, challenging the stereotype that loneliness was a specifically female experience.
Source: Christina Victor, Sasha Scambler, Louise Marston, John Bond and Ann Bowling, 'Older people's experiences of loneliness in the UK: does gender matter?', Social Policy and Society, Volume 5 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2006-Jan
A new book analyzed the concepts of ageism and age discrimination in social policy.
Source: John Macnicol, Age Discrimination: An historical and contemporary analysis, Cambridge University Press (01223 312393)
Links: Summary
Date: 2006-Jan
