Ageing population Flashcards
Stats?
Proportaion of over 85s in the UK has doubled since 1985
More people live past 65
What are the factors that cause the ageing population
Increasing Life expectancy
declinging infant mortality and fertility
What did Hirsch
People will have to work into their 70s or pay more takes during their working life to contribute towards health and social care
Single pensioners competere for housing single young people making house prices rise
Traditional age pyramid is disappearing and being replaced by equal sized blocks
Describe public services
Older people consume a larger proportion of services
Describe one person pensioner households
Increased and accounts for 12.5% of all households, most are female as men die earlier
Describe dependency ratio
Non working old are depent who need to be provided for, as retirement numbers increase so does the burden
However its wrong assume that old means dependent, pension age is rising
Describe ageism
Discrimination against older people due to their age and this increases in ageing population- needs of older people are seen as a porblem
Describe modern society and old age
Ageism is a result of “structured dependency” - old are excluded from paid work so dependent
Status is determined by role in production
Everything is structured - labelled as pensioner and excluded from role in labour force
What did Phillipson say about modern society and ageism
Old are no use to capitalism as they aren’t productive so the state is unwilling to support them so family has to
Describe post modern society and age
Fixed orderly stages of the life course have broken down ie children dressing like adults
Consumption becomes key to our identities not production - Hunt - choose a lifestyle and identity regardless of age
Old become a market for vast range of body maintanenance to create identities ie plastic surgery
What are the main features of post modern society
Centrality of media
Emphasis on surface features - antiageing
Describe inequality among the old
Pilcher - class and gender remain important
Class- MC better occupational pensions and greater savins
Gender - Womens earnings lower, lower pensions
Describe policy implications
Housing policy - encourage smaller accommodation releasing welth to improve living standard
Age is an social construct not fixed so cultraul attitudes need to change
