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Lifelong learning, welfare and mental well-being into older age

Lifelong learning, welfare and mental well-being into older age. John Field Elder Academy of the HKIE 9 January 2009. “Aging societies”. “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

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Lifelong learning, welfare and mental well-being into older age

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  1. Lifelong learning, welfare and mental well-being into older age John Field Elder Academy of the HKIE 9 January 2009

  2. “Aging societies”

  3. “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%

  4. “Aging Britain”

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. Foresight project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing www.foresight.gov.uk

  8. Foresight 2008 ► Two challenges for older adults • 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. • 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.

  9. Foresight 2008 ► Factors affecting mental capital • Determinants of the brain’s white matter lesions which affect cognitive aging (eg vascular risk factors) • Chronic exposure to stress • Physical fitness • Social engagement • Education

  10. Foresight 2008 ►Prospects for cognitive enhancement • Pharmacological cognitive enhancers • Specific types of cognitive training • Cognitive memory aids • Physical activity • Education and learning

  11. So where are we now?

  12. 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

  13. Current/recent participation by age Aldridge and Tuckett 2008

  14. None since leaving full-time education by age Aldridge + Tuckett 2008

  15. Future intentions to learn in relation to age Aldridge + Tuckett 2008

  16. 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)

  17. 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

  18. 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)

  19. 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

  20. 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

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