3.3: The ageing population Flashcards
The UK, in common with other Western societies, has an ageing population.
What is an ageing population?
An ageing population is when the average age of the population is getting higher, with:
- A greater proportion of the population middle-aged or older
- A smaller proportion of young people
Median age
Median age is the age at which:
- Half the population is younger
- Half the population is older
From 1985 to 2010, what did the median age of the UK population do, according to the ONS in 2012
From 1985 to 2010, the median age of the UK population increased from approximately: 1. 35 years to 2. 40 years ,according to the ONS in 2012
From 1985 to 2010, the median age of the UK population increased from approximately 35 years to 40 years, according to the ONS in 2012.
What is predicted?
It is predicted that the median age of the UK population will increase to about 42 years by 2035
Causes of an ageing population:
The ageing population has come about for how many main reasons?
The ageing population has come about for 2 main reasons:
- Lower birth rates
- Increased life expectancy
Causes of an ageing population:
The ageing population has come about for 2 main reasons - Lower birth rates and increased life expectancy.
Lower birth rates:
What does this mean?
Lower birth rates means that fewer people are being born in the younger generations than in previous generations
Causes of an ageing population:
The ageing population has come about for 2 main reasons - Lower birth rates and increased life expectancy.
Lower birth rates:
Lower birth rates means that fewer people are being born in the younger generations than in previous generations, reducing what?
Lower birth rates means that fewer people are being born in the younger generations than in previous generations, reducing the size of the youthful population
Causes of an ageing population:
The ageing population has come about for 2 main reasons - Lower birth rates and increased life expectancy.
Increased life expectancy:
In 1951, what was life expectancy in the UK for men and for women?
In 1951, life expectancy in the UK was:
- Approximately 66 years for men
- Approximately 71 years for women
Causes of an ageing population:
The ageing population has come about for 2 main reasons - Lower birth rates and increased life expectancy.
Increased life expectancy:
In 1951, life expectancy in the UK was approximately 66 years for men and approximately 71 years for women.
By 2010/2012, life expectancy in the UK had increased to what for men and what for women?
By 2010/2012, life expectancy in the UK had increased to:
- Approximately 79 years for men
- Approximately 83 years for women
Causes of an ageing population:
The ageing population has come about for 2 main reasons - Lower birth rates and increased life expectancy.
Increased life expectancy:
In 1951, life expectancy in the UK was approximately 66 years for men and approximately 71 years for women.
By 2010/2012, life expectancy in the UK had increased to approximately 79 years for men and approximately 83 years for women.
As more people live into old age, the proportion of the population who are elderly is increasing.
Mortality rates at older ages have improved due to a combination of factors such as what?
Mortality rates at older ages have improved due to a combination of factors such as:
- Improved medical treatments
- Housing and living standards
- Nutrition
- Changes in the population’s smoking habits
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing what ratio?
An increasing age dependency ratio
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
What is this linked to?
This is linked to the demands on family members
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
This is linked to the demands on family members.
Who have identified the emergence of a ‘sandwich’ generation family
Grundy and Henrietta have identified the emergence of a ‘sandwich’ generation family
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
This is linked to the demands on family members.
Grundy and Henrietta have identified the emergence of a ‘sandwich’ generation family.
These are older middle aged people, especially women, who are burdened with the responsibility of caring for their parents or parents-in-law and also their own children, who may be what?
These are older middle aged people, especially women, who are burdened with the responsibility of caring for their parents or parents-in-law and also their own children, who:
- May be adults
- May be partially dependent on their parents and living with them
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
This is linked to the demands on family members.
Grundy and Henrietta have identified the emergence of a ‘sandwich’ generation family.
These are older middle aged people, especially women, who are burdened with the responsibility of caring for their parents or parents-in-law and also their own children, who may be adults and may be partially dependent on their parents and living with them.
This could be argued to be a what perspective?
This could be argued to be a feminist perspective
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
- An increasing age dependency ratio.
- Increased what spending?
Increased public spending
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
Not all elderly people are a financial drain on the working population, but older people, especially the very old, are much more likely to require what than younger people?
Not all elderly people are a financial drain on the working population, but older people, especially the very old, are much more likely to require:
1. Health services
2. Social services
than younger people
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
Not all elderly people are a financial drain on the working population, but older people, especially the very old, are much more likely to require health services and social services than younger people.
What do taxes paid by the working population also pay for?
Taxes paid by the working population also pay for a variety of financial benefits for the elderly
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
Not all elderly people are a financial drain on the working population, but older people, especially the very old, are much more likely to require health services and social services than younger people.
Taxes paid by the working population also pay for a variety of financial benefits for the elderly, such as what?
Taxes paid by the working population also pay for a variety of financial benefits for the elderly, such as state pensions
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
- An increasing age dependency ratio.
- Increased public spending.
- What for older people?
- Loneliness
- Isolation
for older people
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
3. Loneliness and isolation for older people.
Who (what year) found that the % of older people reporting that they were lonely, 7%, is relatively low?
Christina Victor et al. (2003) found that the % of older people reporting that they were lonely, 7%, is relatively low
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
3. Loneliness and isolation for older people.
Christina Victor et al. (2003) found that the % of older people reporting that they were lonely, 7%, is relatively low.
What did the majority of older people demonstrate?
The majority of older people demonstrated high levels of contact with:
- Friends
- Family
- Neighbours
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
3. Loneliness and isolation for older people.
Christina Victor et al. (2003) found that the % of older people reporting that they were lonely, 7%, is relatively low.
The majority of older people demonstrated high levels of contact with friends, family and neighbours.
What did they also find?
They also found that the extent of loneliness among older people has been remarkably stable in the post-war period
Disadvantages of an ageing population:
1. An increasing age dependency ratio.
2. Increased public spending.
3. Loneliness and isolation for older people.
Christina Victor et al. (2003) found that the % of older people reporting that they were lonely, 7%, is relatively low.
The majority of older people demonstrated high levels of contact with friends, family and neighbours.
They also found that the extent of loneliness among older people has been remarkably stable in the post-war period.
However, the number of isolated older people is likely to be increasing, why?
The number of isolated older people is likely to be increasing, as:
- More people live alone
- A growing number of older people are likely to be divorced or single