Ageing Population Flashcards
Overview
Average age of population getting higher, greater proportion over retirement age, smaller proportion of young people
Harper - if bend to longevity continues people will live past centurian age
Summary of Changes
1901 - 33% under 15, 63% 15-65, 4% over 65
2001 - Bulge in middle age groups
2012 - 17% over 65
2033 projection - 40s largest age group, most in equal proportion, higher percentage over 65
Consequences of Ageing Population
Spijker and MacInnes
Older people effectively younger, healthier, and fitter and keen to avoid dependency and use resources + expertise to help themselves
Legal abolition of retirement age (65) in 2011 - workers not forced to retire
Employees collect state pension between 61-68
Consequences of Ageing Population
Lawton
Older people have freedom to work longer
Employment rate of 65 and over increased most rapidly of any age group over last decade - 1 in 10 in paid work
Falling pensioner poverty over last 30 years
Many people in 60s, 70s, 80s remain healthy + involved in community
Why Do Experiences of Ageing Vary?
Likely to generate more family + household diversity, return of classic extended family, more one person households, more beanpole families - affects type of support
Why do Experiences of Ageing Vary?
More family + household diversity
Return of classic extended families, more one person households, more beanpole families - affects type of support
Advantages of Ageing Population
Boost to the Economy
Lawton - ageing population means new markets
Purchasing power of old people (grey pound) make important contribution to UK economy in leisure and culture - large share of 65-74 yr old spending
Growing numbers in paid employment
Advantages of Ageing Population
More Social Cohesion and Community Involvement
More people play role in community post-retirement
Department of Culture, Media, and Sport, ‘Taking Part’ - Nearly 4.9 million people 65+ (58%) took part in volunteering or civic entertainment
Important in supporting informal social networks + building social cohesion and involvement
Advantages of Ageing Population
Less Crime
Older people generally more law-abiding than younger people
Societies with ageing populations likely to have lower crime rates
Advantages of Ageing Population
Family Support
Many families have both parents in paid employment, grandparents provide unpaid childcare: financial, practical, and emotional assistance.
Legal and General, ‘Value of a Parent’ - average 8 hours a week, £73 if paid
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
Burden of Dependence and ‘Pensions Timebomb’
Increased dependency ratio, so higher taxes on those working
Health and Social Care Information Centre, ‘Focus on the Health and Care of Older People’ - 65+ account for 1 in 6 population, but over half time in hospital, 60% of 1bn drugs prescribed
Around half welfare budget on pensioners, expected to keep rising - pensions timebomb
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
More Poverty and Family Hardship
Marxists - more poverty as selling labour only means of maintaining reasonable standard of living
2013 - 1.6 million pensioners below poverty line
More families encountering financial hardship, younger people have to support themselves, children, and parents/grandparents
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
Loss of Skill and Experience from Labour Force
Built up over a lifetime, takes a long time to replace
Many employees regard young workers as unreliable or uncommitted
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
More Pensioner One-Person Households
Growing isolation + loneliness as friends/partners die
Growing dependence on children to visit + support, but breakdown of extended families + kin support
Family support unavailable, pressure on caring services
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
Family Stress
Emotional strain or overcrowding if elderly relative moves in with child’s family
May cause conflict between couples, or between children and grandparents
Increased costs to family
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
More Work for Women
Feminists - practical burden of care for elderly falls on women
Longer life expectancy, more adult carers are themselves elderly
50-64 - 25% women regularly care for relative, 17% of men
Disadvantages of Ageing Population
Housing Shortages
Younger people may struggle to find affordable homes as elderly people occupy them longer.
Become part of ‘clipped wing’ generation
Griffiths Report
Society facing problem of meeting escalating costs of health and social care for old people
‘Pensions timebomb’ - fears over meeting costs for state pensions
Townsend
Old age is social construction - leads to negative attitudes
Created through statutory retirement age and forced reliance on inadequate benefits
Hirsch
New policies should be introduced to tackle the problems with the ageing population
People of working age pay more tax, or increase retirement age
Blaikie
Post-modern culture, old age need not be a time of dependency, can be time of increased choice
Pilcher
One in seven pensioners live below poverty line, position of elderly workers varies greatly
