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Lifelong learning, welfare and mental well-being into older age
John Field
Elder Academy of the HKIE
9 January 2009
“Aging societies”
Over-60s as percentage of population
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2000 2020 2040
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
USA
UK
“Aging Europe”
• The ‘old-age dependency ratio’ = over-60 population ÷ 20-60 population
• EU set to rise from 38% in 2000 to 50% by 2018
• By 2040, it is projected to rise to over 70%
“Aging Britain”
5.4
5.4
6.2
7.7
2
2.1
2.3
2.9
0 5 10 15 20 25
2001
2011
2021
2031
% 65-74
% 75-84
% 85+
Changing transitions
• Increasing average age of first marriage
• Delayed first childbirths
• Growth of solo living
• Growth of voluntary childlessness
• Falling de facto age of retirement
• Increased probability of becoming grandparent
• Grandparents increasingly affected by divorce
Intergenerational patterns
• Heightened public debate over (net) intergenerational transfers
• Intergenerational exchanges of help are common (eg grandparents and childcare)
• Voluntary financial assistance is also common (eg parental help to buy first house)
• Caring is a major familial function and is as common among older men as women
• Older men are more likely to be caring for a spouse, older women to care for children or parents
• Solo households especially important among elderly
• Risks of isolation (squeezed from labour market, detached from community)
Foresight 2008 ► Two challenges for older adults
1. How to ensure that the considerable resource which older adults offer (particularly through their mental capital) is recognised and valued by society, and able to be used by the individual.
2. How to enable the greatest number of older adults to maintain the best possible mental capital, and so preserve their independence and well-being, both for their own benefit and also to minimise their need for support.
Foresight 2008 ► Factors affecting mental capital
1. Determinants of the brain’s white matter lesions which affect cognitive aging (eg vascular risk factors)
2. Chronic exposure to stress
3. Physical fitness
4. Social engagement
5. Education
Foresight 2008 ►Prospects for cognitive enhancement
1. Pharmacological cognitive enhancers
2. Specific types of cognitive training
3. Cognitive memory aids
4. Physical activity
5. Education and learning
Foresight
In a society where the mental capital of older people is seriously undervalued, it is unsurprising that there has been little investment to date in providing other-than-recreational classes for older adults.
Foresight report
Mental Capital and Well-being
Current/recent participation by age
40
20 21 17 13 9 5
21
22 2524
17
96
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
Recent
Current
Aldridge and Tuckett 2008
None since leaving full-time education by age
2633 29 31
39
5057
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
None
Aldridge + Tuckett 2008
Future intentions to learn in relation to age
5853
48
37
24
128
3844
48
59
74
8591
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
Very/fairly likely
Fairly/very unlikely
Aldridge + Tuckett 2008
Changing support systems:the family
• New family forms• Increasing prevalence of multigenerational
families• Single person households• Growing numbers of grandparents• General decline in familial contacts (Social
Attitudes Survey)
Changing support systems:the community
• USA – apparent decline in ‘social capital’• UK: decline in some established institutions (marked
for organisations of working class solidarity)• UK: growth in some institutions and in much informal
networking (especially for women and the service professional classes)
• Neighbourhood generally losing significance• Risk, trust and reciprocity
Changing support systems:the state
• Welfare state under considerable pressure• Activation plus steering rather than provision
and supply• Trend to marketisation of many personal
services, including childcare and eldercare• Increasing emphasis on personal
responsibility for life planning• UK policy – “Sharing Risk” (DWP 2008)
Conclusions
• There is convincing evidence on the health benefits of engaging in learning
• There is convincing evidence on the impact of learning on self-efficacy
• Financial literacy and financial education
• The growing Third Age market
Conclusions
• An aging population does present problems, especially those linked with the very old
• Nevertheless, there is no clear reason for casting the issue predominantly in negative terms
• We need a new language, emphasising resilience, opportunity and engagement
• Policies combining education with social capital and physical activity