A think-tank report examined ageing in Britain and considered options for helping older people to remain in work, and to remain connected with their local communities.
Source: Kayte Lawton, Getting Older and Staying Connected, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Dec
A report said that the United Kingdom population was projected to increase to 70 million in 2027. Projected natural increase (more births than deaths) would account for 57 per cent of the projected increase over the next 25 years. The population was projected to continue ageing, with the number of people aged 80 and over projected more than to double to 6 million by mid-2037.
Source: National Population Projections: 2012-based statistical bulletin, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report | ONS press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Nov
A report examined intergenerational financial transfers from grandparents to grandchildren.
Source: Brian Beach, Grandparental Generosity: Financial transfers from grandparents to grandchildren, International Longevity Centre – UK
Links: Report | ILC press release | Guardian report
Date: 2013-Oct
A study examined policy on public and community transport in the north and south of Ireland. The study focused on the needs of older people, with a view to identifying potential strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improving rural transport.
Source: Conor Breen, Public and Community Transport for Older People in Rural Ireland – North and South, Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Oct
A report analyzed the characteristics of older people (those aged 65 and over) who were usually resident in England and Wales in 2011. Those living as married couples had increased from 51 per cent in 2001 to 54 per cent, while the proportion living as cohabiting couples had almost doubled from 1.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent. The proportion of the population aged 65-74 who were economically active in 2011 (16 per cent) was almost double the proportion in 2001 (8.7 per cent).
Source: What Does the 2011 Census Tell Us about Older People?, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined the evidence for inter-generational conflict in developed (OECD) countries. Little support was found in general: but people who were close to statutory retirement age disliked public expenditure on families and education.
Source: Tim Krieger and Jens Ruhose, 'Honey, I shrunk the kids benefits – revisiting intergenerational conflict in OECD countries', Public Choice, Volume 157 Issue 1-2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Sep
The interim report of a Labour party commission on older women said that reform was urgently needed in the areas of work, care, and public life. Older women could face double discrimination, on the grounds of gender and age: the Equality Act already had provisions to tackle this, which the coalition government should be implementing.
Source: The Commission on Older Women: Interim Report, Labour Party
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined a 'growing consensus' in European human rights law that states were subject to special obligations to take action to vindicate the rights of older people and to address their specific needs and requirements.
Source: Colm O Cinneide, 'The growing importance of age equality', Equal Rights Review, Volume 11
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined legal and conceptual issues in relation to age discrimination. It said that there was a need for the rights of elderly people to be recognized through the adoption of a specific international convention. In Europe, the application of the revised European Social Charter might promote a progressive concept of age discrimination: although there were some concerns over the application of the European Union Framework Directive, a clarification of its concepts and application might be expected in due course from the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice.
Source: Csilla Kollonay Lehoczky, 'Who, whom, when, how? Questions and emerging answers on age discrimination', Equal Rights Review, Volume 11
Links: Article
Date: 2013-Sep
A think-tank report called for the creation of an older people's commissioner for England. The commissioner would be free from party politics and able to act as a strong advocate for older people. It would challenge discrimination, champion older people's contribution to society and the economy, and spearhead the future proofing of policy in preparation for the challenges posed by an ageing society.
Source: Paul Burstow MP (ed.), Giving Older People a Voice: The case for an Older People's Commissioner for England, CentreForum
Date: 2013-Sep
A report by a committee of MPs said that prisons were failing to cope with the rapid growth in the number of older prisoners – partly caused by the increase in convictions for historic sexual offences. It called on the government to develop a national strategy to provide for older prisoners effectively.
Source: Older Prisoners, Fifth Report (Session 2013-14), HC 89, House of Commons Justice Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Additional written evidence | Committee press release | Nottingham Trent University press release | PRT press release
Date: 2013-Sep
An article examined European Court of Justice case law in the field of elder rights. On average, only 1-2 per cent of ECJ cases each year addressed the rights of older persons. However, in most of those that did, the ECJ decision was in support of the older person's rights.
Source: Israel Doron, 'Older Europeans and the European Court of Justice', Age and Ageing, Volume 42 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Aug
An article examined the dominant ways in which well-being had been conceptualized and researched within social policy, focusing in particular on the significance of this for policy relating to older people. It critically explored normative notions of independence, autonomy, and consumerism at the heart of policy on well-being and ageing; and suggested that indexes of older people's happiness concealed more than they revealed. Keeping well in old age involved demanding emotional and organizational labour both for older people and for family and friends. There was a need for ethical and relational sensibilities at the heart of policy on well-being and ageing.
Source: Marian Barnes, David Taylor, and Lizzie Ward, 'Being well enough in old age', Critical Social Policy, Volume 33 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jul
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on preparations for an ageing society. It denied being 'woefully underprepared' and said that it had put in place a wide-reaching programme of reforms that would begin to address the challenges set out in the MPs' report.
Source: Government Response to the House of Lords Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change Report of Session 2012-13: 'Ready for Ageing?', Cm 8677, Department of Health, TSO
Links: Response | Hansard | JRF blog post
Notes: MPs report (March 2013)
Date: 2013-Jul
An article examined the development of age discrimination law in the European Court of Justice. There was a marked difference in the level of discretion given to member states in cases relating to mandatory retirement policies. Such policies might no longer be compatible with European Union law, and there was a need to move towards more flexible retirement policies.
Source: Elaine Dewhurst, 'The development of EU case-law on age discrimination in employment: "Will you still need me? Will you still feed me? When I'm sixty-four"', European Law Journal, Volume 19 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
An article examined the associations between reciprocity in socially productive activities (such as volunteering) and well-being in England, separately for men and women in the years leading up to state pension age.
Source: Paola Zaninotto, Elizabeth Breeze, Anne McMunn, and James Nazroo, 'Socially productive activities, reciprocity and well-being in early old age: gender-specific results from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)', Journal of Population Ageing, Volume 6 Number 1-2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jun
A report said that an ageing society faced crises in housing, care, and employment. It set out more than 50 policy ideas, including proposals for a major housebuilding programme and extra funding for both childcare and care for elderly people. The proposals would be financed by abolishing pension tax relief for those on higher incomes, together with savings from prevention, 'smarter' spending, and shifting tax from income to wealth.
Source: A Future for All Ages: Growth starts with homes, care and jobs, United for All Ages
Links: Report | UAA press release
Date: 2013-May
A report said that there was a need to overhaul the entire approach to ageing, and to challenge ageist stereotypes that limited older people s lives and their ability to contribute to society. The approach to care should be transformed by abandoning models such as care homes that disempowered people and forced them into passive dependence.
Source: Emma Lindley and Steve Broome, Sex, Skydiving and Tattoos: The end of retirement and the dawn of a new old age, Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce
Date: 2013-May
A think-tank report presented research showing that retirement had a detrimental impact on both mental and physical health over time. Although initially there might be a small bounce in health, over the medium and longer term retirement caused a drastic decline in health, for both men and women. The report said that the government should pursue policies that removed barriers to working longer. Higher state pension ages were both possible and desirable, and should lead to better average health in old age. Impediments to later retirement such as those found in state pension systems, disability benefit provision, and employment protection legislation should be removed.
Source: Gabriel Sahlgren, Work Longer, Live Healthier: The relationship between economic activity, health and government policy, Institute of Economic Affairs
Links: Report | IEA press release | BBC report | Telegraph report
Date: 2013-May
A think-tank report examined how well developed (OECD) countries lived up to the principles of inter-generational justice. It considered how clearly such principles could be measured, and how cross-national comparisons could help foster more strategic policy-making.
Source: Pieter Vanhuysse, Intergenerational Justice in Aging Societies: A cross-national comparison of 29 OECD countries, Bertelsmann Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
A report examined reported feelings of loneliness by people in England aged 52 and over. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents reported being lonely hardly ever or never; 25 per cent said that they felt lonely sometimes; and only 9 per cent said that they felt lonely often. A higher percentage of those aged 80 and over reported feeling lonely some of the time or often when compared with other age groups. Those who reported feeling lonely sometimes or often were much more likely to report a lower level of satisfaction with their lives overall. 2 in every 5 individuals who lived alone reported that they hardly ever or never felt lonely. People who had been widowed, separated or divorced, or those who were in poor health, were more likely to report feeling lonely.
Source: Jen Beaumont, Measuring National Well-Being: Older People and Loneliness, 2013, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2013-Apr
A report examined, for those aged 50 and over, two measures used for measuring national well-being. A higher percentage of people aged 50 and over (70 per cent) were satisfied with the amount of their leisure time compared with all those aged 16 and over (61 per cent). A higher percentage of those who were satisfied with the amount of their leisure time were also satisfied with their life overall. About 1 in 5 people aged 50 and over had volunteered more than once in the previous 12 months, but this varied by age group. Volunteering was also associated with greater overall life satisfaction.
Source: Theodore Joloza, Measuring National Well-being: Older People's Leisure Time and Volunteering, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
An article examined levels of social engagement among older residents of a disadvantaged urban community, and their link with well-being and community attachment.
Source: Roger Beech and Michael Murray, 'Social engagement and healthy ageing in disadvantaged communities', Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume 14 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
A report by a committee of peers said that the government was 'woefully underprepared' for the ageing society. A rapidly ageing population would have a huge impact on society and public services. Unless the government and all political parties addressed this, the gift of longer life could lead to a series of crises.
Source: Ready for Ageing?, Report (Session 2012–13), HL 140, House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change, TSO
Links: Report | Oral and written evidence | Committee press release | Alzheimers Society press release | CBI press release | CIH press release | ILCUK press release | Kings Fund press release | Labour Party press release | Newcastle University press release | NHF press release | NIACE press release | TUC blog post | BBC report | Daily Mail report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report | Public Finance report
Date: 2013-Mar
A report examined the impact of ageing on society and what this meant in terms of innovation. It said that a systematic look at people's lives in the context of changing demographics was required, with a priority on the issues that had most impact on older people.
Source: Halima Khan, Five Hours a Day: Systematic innovation for an ageing population, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
Links: Report | Newcastle University press release
Date: 2013-Mar
An article said that an active ageing strategy could provide a basis for European countries to respond to the challenges presented by an ageing population. But this strategy needed to reflect the need for a partnership between citizens and society, and be comprehensive, non-coercive, and inclusive in its approach. In particular, it needed to acknowledge the gendered nature of ageing and previous life course events, and to emphasize well-being rather than just the production of resources and services.
Source: Liam Foster and Alan Walker, 'Gender and active ageing in Europe', European Journal of Ageing, Volume 10 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined asset-based approaches for promoting active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in European countries.
Source: Guy Robertson, 'The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe', Working with Older People, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined labour market and family experiences from late adolescence to retirement age among a group of older adults, and how these experiences were related to economic resources and health at age 65. Five latent life paths broadly characterized the work and family experiences of older adults in the sample. They were distinguished by gender, labour market and family care activities, marital status, and the presence of children in the household. Better economic resource and mental health outcomes were found among the pathways describing predominantly male experiences: but the heterogeneity of women's experiences should also be noted, and their implications for economic and health outcomes at retirement age.
Source: Laurie Corna and Amanda Sacker, 'A lifetime of experience: modeling the labour market and family histories of older adults in Britain', Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, Volume 4 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined volunteering by older people across Europe and the evidence for its benefits for health and well-being
Source: Guy Robertson, 'The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe', Working with Older People, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
A paper examined the impact of learning on the well-being of older adults. Learning was associated with higher well-being after controlling for a range of other factors. There was strong evidence that more informal types of learning were associated with higher well-being. There was also some evidence that obtaining qualifications was linked to higher well-being, but no evidence that formal education/training courses were associated with higher well-being.
Source: Andrew Jenkins and Tarek Mostafa, Learning and Wellbeing Trajectories among Older Adults in England, Working Paper 13-02, Department of Quantitative Social Science, Institute of Education (University of London)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined the hypothesis that the relationship between social class and quality of life in older people was due to the influence of social class on the perception that individuals had about their place in a social hierarchy. Even among those in employment, a subjective measure of social status explained quality of life better than the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification. This effect was independent of advantageous occupational conditions, favourable life circumstances, or mental health.
Source: Gopalakrishnan Netuveli and Mel Bartley, 'Perception is reality: effect of subjective versus objective socio-economic position on quality of life', Sociology, Volume 46 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined ageing and pension provision in the European Union. It looked at how an active ageing framework could be utilized to improve the pension situation of older people. This included the use of a more comprehensive approach to active ageing that encompassed a life-course perspective. This framework should emphasize the potential benefits older people presented for society, and their well-being.
Source: Liam Foster, 'Active ageing and pensions in the European Union', Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, Volume 28 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper examined age-related changes in subjective well-being in later life. Older people had better subjective well-being than younger ones for each well-being measure, except at the oldest age for quality of life. Nonetheless, deterioration in well-being was greater at older ages, even when adjusting for age-related changes in later life, including widowhood, retirement, and declining health.
Source: Stephen Jivraj, Bram Vanhoutte, James Nazroo, and Tarani Chandola, Age, Ageing and Subjective Wellbeing in Later Life, Working Paper 2013-05, Centre for Census and Survey Research (University of Manchester)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
A new book examined the adoption of 'active ageing' policies by European Union nations, and the impact on older people's work and retirement policy options.
Source: Kate Hamblin, Active Ageing in the European Union: Policy convergence and divergence, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper examined gender inequalities in old age in Europe. It considered measures implemented in the main policy areas of active ageing (employment; training and life-long learning; volunteer/community work; age-friendly environment; and supportive services) in order to identify effective strategies from a gender equality perspective.
Source: Marcella Corsi and Manuela Samek Lodovici, Active Ageing and Gender Equality, Working Paper 13/004, Centre Emile Bernheim (Brussels)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
