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 project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing

www.foresight.gov.uk

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

So where are we now?

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