A HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER OLD AGE

Meg Munn

As we get older, we face new difficulties – deteriorating health, reduced finances and possible loneliness, as we no longer have regular contact with work colleagues. In addition, many have to face up to a future alone when their life partner dies, a major event with significant implications for both physical and mental health.

Inevitable changes  

Increasing numbers want to live independently; the number of single-person elderly households is growing, from those who have never married as well as the widowed. The result will be people with higher costs of living per person. Many people now expect to accumulate resources for their old age, and will do so. But as we get older, the possibilities of increasing our income through work decreases.  With the retirement age rising and the right to carry on working, this is perhaps less true than previously, but generally, as people live longer they will have fewer resources.

Generations to come will have expectations of a good quality of life and they will be less likely to tolerate poor living conditions for the elderly. This, coupled with the population bulge of the ‘baby boomers’, will put more strain on services over the next 20 to 40 years.

In this context, we have to be clear that the state can’t do everything – nor should it try. It should build a safety net for those who have not been able to provide for themselves or who suffer difficult circumstances such as disability or terminal illness.  The state should aim to provide support in a way that encourages behaviour that is beneficial both to elderly people and to society more generally.

Preventive health measures 

The Health Service should promote more preventive health measures, with a focus on supporting good mental health as this helps overall wellbeing. This should also be a specific aim of third sector organisations contracting with PCTs.

Ideas include:

·     Health walks: a double benefit, because of physical fitness and the coming together regularly of a group.

·     Keep-fit classes: when focused on the elderly to address health issues such as osteoporosis. – again,   a  double benefit is provided.  Chairobics can be offered for those less able.

·     Sport: there are many sports which can be played at levels compatible with the fitness levels of older people. Other sports, such as bowls, are well suited to a slow pace. When combined with membership of a club, the sense of belonging and regular social contact have additional benefits.

·     Free swimming: this is already provided in some areas but needs to be everywhere. A popular exercise that encourages flexibility without straining joints.

Increasing the number and variety of classes for older people should also be considered. A wide range of options should be offered, such as art, writing poetry, learning languages, studying history etc. These will encourage socialisation and when acquiring new skills will provide a sense of achievement and keep the brain active. We will need to fund these activities from sources different to those organisations, such as the Learning and Skills Council, which are focused on those who need to learn new skills for work. The elderly will always be a lower priority for such organisations, so we need bodies whose primary goal is to support the elderly.

Encouraging volunteering will value elderly people’s skills and experiences. This promotes self-esteem and extends an individual’s contribution to society. It can work to bridge generational gaps: elderly people can talk to schoolchildren about their life history or share their skills. It also builds communities; children recognise elderly people locally and speak to them, which reduces isolation.

Housing costs 

Increasingly, people want to stay in their own homes as they get older, with the familiar environment of neighbours and local shops. But as their resources diminish, this can become a burden.

Some measures we could implement to help:

·        Offer a zero VAT rate on all domestic insulation and energy-efficient products.

·        Provide some financial support for schemes to make homes more energy-efficient.

·        Cut VAT to 5 per cent for all repair and maintenance work on homes.

We can also look at ways of encouraging people to move to smaller homes. Existing schemes in social housing try to free up larger family housing. Thought needs to be given to how this might be achieved for those who own their home. The fear of moving to a new neighbourhood, away from family and friends, is often a disincentive to move. Ensuring that all new developments have mixed housing suitable for both small and large households will create more opportunities for people to continue living in the same area.

Tailored support 

One of the most difficult things for elderly people to accept is the need to have help with personal care. The move to personalised budgets with the opportunity to employ your own carer should be accelerated for those who wish to do so. This not only leads to greater efficiency, whereby a budget can be used for more tailored support, but removes some of the sense of dependency. Where a person suffers from Alzheimers, giving the budget to a carer can again allow for tailored support which can be used flexibly to meet changing needs.

Getting older is inevitable, but having a poorer quality of life doesn’t need to be. We need a good understanding of the issues that face elderly people and the different ways it can be appropriate for the state to support them. By ensuring that there are many opportunities to continue to contribute to society, to meet and socialise and to receive personalised services, life could be healthier and happier for many more elderly people. 

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