Ageing Population in Devon, UK

Ageing Population in Devon, UK

1. Why people are living longer

   • Welfare State
     • NHS
     • Benefits
       • Less abject poverty
     • State Pensions
   • Sanitation
     • Hygienic Toilets
     • Clean Water
   • Education
     • Better understanding of the body and what's healthy
     • Doctors with good knowledge
   • Food
     • Knowledge of what's nutritious
     • Propaganda to get people healthier
   • Medical Advances
     • Fewer fatal diseases and more cures
   • Technology
     • X rays to find problems easily
     • Instruments to help people live longer

2. Positives

   • Younger pensioners (60's to 70's) contribute a lot to the economy because they have lots of spare time and disposable income for holidays etc.
     • 'The Grey Pound'
   • Older ages mean that people have a better quality of life in the UK
   • Fewer infant mortalities
   • 'The Grey Pound' contributes £215 billion to the UK economy annually
   • Grandparents can take care of grandchildren, so that the parents can go back to work quicker

3. Negatives

   • As people get older, they need more access to health care
     • Government needs more funding with more old people
     • Nursing homes needed
       • Very expensive
   • As life expectancy is higher, pensions need to be given out for longer to more people
     • The pension was designed in 1908 when the life expectancy was 67. (pension was only required for two years, but now for thirty years)
   • Houses need specialist equipment
   • Shortage of carers in East Devon because of the high number of retired people compared to working age people
   • Concession prices cause facilities like swimming pools to get smaller profits
   • Specialist transport is needed. Better public transport needed in rural areas
   • Younger people's views and needs are neglected, so they move away

4. Solutions

   • Increase the retirement age from 65 to 68
     • Controversial, as people don't want to work for that long, and physically infirm people may have to do very physically demanding work
   • Private Pension Policy
     • In 2012 it became a legal requirement that every business organises a pension scheme
   • Encourage working age immigrants to move to the UK
   • Encourage those over 65 to take the flu jabs to prevent need of the NHS so heavily