Landmark UN report warns of impact of rapidly ageing populations

An ageing world demands wiser policies, says a new report published by the UN on ageing populations, with the population of over-60-year-olds to reach one billion within the decade.

The report, entitled 'Ageing in the 21st Century: A celebration and a challenge', was released on 1 October 2012, the International Day of Older Persons, by UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and HelpAge International. It concluded that new thinking is needed to realise the rights and potential of older persons, particularly as the over-60 population will be larger than the under-15 population in 2050.

The new report underlines that, while the trend of ageing societies is a cause for celebration, it also presents great challenges as it requires completely new approaches to health care, retirement, living arrangements and intergenerational relations. The consequences of these issues are likely to take unprepared countries by surprise if not addressed promptly. In many developing countries with large populations of young people, for example, the challenge is that governments have not put policies and practices in place to support their current older populations or made sufficient preparations for 2050.

Contributing to our understanding of such challenges, the ESRC Centre for Population Change (CPC) has been investigating how complex intergenerational relations impact on who cares for older family members, particularly in the UK, with a focus on pathways into institutional care. In addition, work has been carried out examining rural ageing, migration and care. This work explores patterns of migration and their implications for care demand and supply, as well as pension outcomes of EU migrants to Britain. The aim of this work is to improve the evidence base for planning care and services so that the UK can be better prepared.

Alongside this, the University of Southampton's Centre for Research on Ageing (CRA) has been examining ageing and wellbeing in a globalising world, as part of an internationally collaborative project between Research Councils in India, the Netherlands and the UK. The topics explored as part of this project include migration, health, social networks and different types of wellbeing, using nationally representative datasets from the different countries. In addition, members of the CRA are exploring the resilience of older persons in slums in Nairobi, Kenya. The study seeks to better understand resilience among older people in coping with stresses and shocks, as some older people are able to adapt and to emerge with better health and socio-economic outcomes and overall wellbeing relative to other older people in such communities.

Richard Blewitt, Chief Executive Officer of HelpAge International, said: "We must commit to ending the widespread mismanagement of ageing. Concrete, cost effective advances will come from ensuring age investment begins at birth - fully recognizing the vast majority of people will live into old age. Global and national action plans are needed to create a pathway to transform the explosive number of people over 60 to become growth drivers and value creators. By revolutionizing our approach and investing in people as they age we can build stronger, wealthier societies. Social protection and age friendly health care are essential to extend the independence of healthy older people and prevent impoverishment in old age."

"These actions," added Mr. Blewitt, "should be based on a long-term vision, and supported by a strong political commitment and a secured budget."

Posted 09/10/2012 14:23