Ageing population - East Devon Flashcards
Why do elderly people have such a huge impact on the government and economy?
Because of the ‘grey pound’ and ‘grey vote’ where elderly people make up a large proportion of the national spending and the votes in the UK
Grey pound is worth £215bn to UK economy
Sectors that benefit most are health, beauty and transport
What percentage of the UK NHS budget is spent on the over 65’s?
50%
What was the ratio between working people and the retired in 1908 and the predicted for 2024 in the UK?
22:1 in 1908 and under 3:1 in 2024
Why does the UK Government need to pay much more for state pensions than they did when they were first introduced?
Because in 1908, when they were introduced, the retirement age for men was 65 and life expectancy was 67 however now the retirement age is 65 for everyone and life expectancy is 80
What strategies have been put in place to deal with the ageing population in the UK? (7)
Increasing retirement age and state pensions for women to 65 and everyones to 68 by 2050,
Restricting access to drugs for diseases of old age,
Increasing support for pregnant women to increase birth rates,
Welcoming migrant workers which increase the tax base,
Introducing anti-ageism laws to provide work opportunities for the elderly.
Providing subsidies and services to keep the retired healthy
Government run intermediate homes to allow the elderly to live independantly
Why are the elderly beneficial to the UK? (3)
Many do voluntary work and/or provide childcare for grandchildren,
Many work into retirement e.g B&Q,
Still pay tax on income and savings.
What is the UK’s dependency ratio?
54%
What are the causes of the ageing population?
Good healthcare - 13.7 hospital beds per 1000
Low fertility rate - 1.9
Contraception widely used - 84% of people
High average first child age - 27.8 for first child
What is the UK’s growth rate?
0.54%
