C3 - The societal effects of an ageing population

Question 1

Define ageing population

Answer 1

Ageing population - a population with a rising average age.

Question 2

What causes an ageing population?

Answer 2

• Better healthcare - advance medical treatments
• Better and educated lifestyle choices
• Better nutrition
• Awareness of risks of smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs
• Women staying in education longer
• Expensive to have children
• Development in vaccinations
• Safer and cleaner living conditions

Question 3

Define Primary services.

Answer 3

Primary services - the first port of call including the GP surgery, pharmacy and dentists.

Question 4

Define secondary services.

Answer 4

Secondary services - those which provide specialist care for ongoing or immediate needs.

Question 5

Reasons for the elderly visiting both primary and secondary healthcare.

Answer 5

• Weak immune systems
• Flu jabs
• Annual check up
• Blood tests
• Diabetic check ups/problems
• For prescriptions such as; blood pressure, antibiotics, cardiac conditions.
• Dental work for denture care, fillings and general deterioration of the teeth and gums.
• Hip/knee replacements.
• Cancer treatments
• Chest pains, chest infections
• Cardiac conditions
• Slips and falls.
• Internal bleeding due to medication side effects
• Recovery and recuperation
• Eye deterioration
• Hearing tests

Question 6

What are social care services used for?

Answer 6

They essentially exist to help and support people in need of practical help and/or personal care due to disability or illness.

Question 7

Examples of social care services.

Answer 7

• Providing a carer or support worker to help around the home with practical tasks and personal care.
• Provide structural changes around the home to support independent living.
• Assess PIES needs and abilities to assess how much support is needed.
• Ensure the elderly have access to day care centres.
• Support elderly in getting access to respite or residential care.

Question 8

What will a pension pay for?

Answer 8

• Cost of your home
• Fuel bills
• Paying debts
• Expenses
• Lifestyle you enjoy
• Partners expenses

Question 9

Financial support for over 60’s means that…

Answer 9

• Free NHS prescriptions
• Free eye tests and eye care
• Free/reduced travel fares
• Winter fuel payments
• Free television licences
• Other discounts to help lead healthy lifestyles

Question 10

Provision for older people is needed to…

Answer 10

• Prevention of isolation
• Chronic conditions
• Loss of mobility
• Age-related conditions
• Loss of independence
• Increased risk of falls/injury
• Age-related disease
• Prevention or slowing of age-related diseases and illnesses.

Question 11

Types of provision available.

Answer 11

• Acute care
• Healthcare
• Social care
• Community equipment
• Psychological care
• Benefits and entitlements
• End of life care

Question 12

What is acute care?

Answer 12

It is meeting immediate health needs, such as broken hips, heart attacks.

Question 13

What is healthcare?

Answer 13

It is medication, support for long-term conditions, palliative care, continence care, specialist nursing/units.

Question 14

What is social care?

Answer 14

It is own home, day care or residential, assessing needs, supporting independence, personal care, day-to-day care, respite care.

Question 15

What is community equipment?

Answer 15

It is keeping people mobile and independent in their own home, e.g mobility aids, aids for daily living.

Question 16

What is psychological care?

Answer 16

It is counsellors, mental health nursing.

Question 17

What is benefits and entitlements?

Answer 17

It is adaptations to home, transport to and from appointments, financial support.

Question 18

What is end of life care?

Answer 18

It is pain relief, psychological support.

Question 19

What are some provisions to help maintain health?

Answer 19

• Health monitoring and screening
• Influenza immunisation
• Winter fuel and cold weather payments
• Rehabilitation after stay in hospital
• Occupational therapy
• Provision of social and leisure activities

Question 20

Define Formal health care.

Answer 20

It is statutory, private, voluntary healthcare.

Question 21

What is informal health care?

Answer 21

It is provided by family, community or religious groups.

Question 22

What is the old age dependency ratio?

Answer 22

This describes the ratio of people older than 65 (so assumed to be retired) to the number of people of working age, which is defined as between 15 and 64. An increase in the older population and longer life expectancy has resulted in fewer people of working age being available to support the needs of older people.

Question 23

How do the elderly impact the economy?

Answer 23

• More people relying on pension benefits
• Higher tax rates
• Bed blocking
• Government spending on health and social care.

Question 24

Impacts of the percentage rise in older people on the economy in health and welfare.

Answer 24

Older people already use more health and care services. A rise in numbers means a higher demand and increased costs.

Question 25

Impacts of the percentage rise in older people on the economy in pension costs.

Answer 25

More people receive a state pension, leaving less money for economic investment.

Question 26

Impacts of the percentage rise in older people on the economy in employment.

Answer 26

More retired people means a shortage of skilled workers. There are changes to working patterns as older people work part-time.

Question 27

Impacts of the percentage rise in older people on the economy on housing.

Answer 27

More retirement houses and sheltered housing are required. People stay in their own homes longer so fewer larger homes are available for families.

Question 28

Government responses to the rise in older people.

Answer 28

• Raising the retirement age.
• Making it easier for older people to stay in work and/or work part-time.
• Encouraging people in work to take out private pensions.
• Increasing taxes to pay for state pensions and welfare.

Question 29

There are pressures on services due to…

Answer 29

• advances in medicine that help people to live longer
• families being unable or less willing to care for older family members at home
• an increase in the numbers of older people with chronic conditions

Question 30

Causes of an ageing population.

Answer 30

• Many people are choosing to marry at a later age, on average between 28-30 years old, and this means that they have children later, or not at all.
• In the UK, there are strong economic reasons why people choose not to have children or to only have one.
• Women stay in education longer and focus on careers so have children later.
• The UK has very good healthcare - well equipped hospitals and medical services.
• The UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
• It is expensive to find childcare for children.

Question 31

Benefits of an ageing population…

Answer 31

• A rising number of people in nursing homes. Increasing the need for more retirement homes.
• Some businesses make more profit as elderly people spend more money on holidays, leisure, etc.
• More childcare support from grandparents for people with families.
• Rise in the retirement age to pay for pensions.

Question 32

Problems of an ageing population…

Answer 32

• Social tensions between the young and old as the young feel they are paying more to support the elderly.
• A rising number of people in nursing homes. Increasing the need for more retirement homes.
• Fewer people of working age - so higher taxes to pay for old people’s healthcare and pensions.
• An increase in the cost of healthcare, as more elderly people require medical treatment.
• Lack of a young workforce.
• An increase in the cost of pensions for the government and individuals.
• Rise in the retirement age to pay for pensions.