ageing population

Created by

olivia thorley

Cards (22)

3 factors causing ageing population
increasing life expectancy
declining IMR
declining fertility
trends in ageing population 
median age rising - 34 to 40 ( 1971 to 2013 )
number of 65s equal to under 15s
ageing population - SPIJKER AND MACINNES
although there is more people aged over 65 than under 15 this isnt a problem as older people are effectively younger and fitter
ageing population - LAWTON
older people have freedom to work for longer if they want due to abolition of retirement age in 2011 = promotes growth in economy
advantages of ageing population
boost to economy
more social cohesion and community involvement
less crime
family support
advantages of ageing population - boost to economy
ageing population brings about new market = LAWTON
purchasing power of old people will make increasing contribution via leisure and culture industry
growing numbers contributing via paid work
emergence of GREY POUND
advantages of ageing population - more social cohesion and involvement
2013-14 = 5 million people aged 65+ took part in volunteering or civic engagement activities
activities support local informal social networks, building social cohesion and involvement
advantages of ageing population - crime
old people less likely to commit crime
advantages of ageing population - family support
grandparents play important role in unpaid childcare
older people play important roles in financial, emotional and practical assistance to family members
grandparents helped working parents for an average of 8 hours a week = £73 if paid
disadvantages of ageing population
growing burden of dependence and 'pensions timebomb'
more poverty and family hardship
loss of skill / experience from labour force
more pensioner one person households
more ill health / disability
family stress
more work for women
housing shortages
disadvantages of ageing population - growing burden of dependence and pensions timebomb 
increased dependency ratio
could result in higher taxes for higher government spending on pensions etc
people over 65 account for 1/6 of population but occupied half the time people spent in hospital
half of welfare budget spent on pensioners - expected to rise
disadvantages of ageing population - more poverty and family hardship 
poverty in capitalist society as requires selling labour power
leaving paid employment - income drop
2013 - 1.6 million pensioners living below poverty line
young people in family may have to support parents / grandparents etc
disadvantages of ageing population - loss of skill / experience from labour force 
can take long time to replace
many employers regard younger people as less reliable and committed than older people
disadvantages of ageing population - more pensioner one person households 
older people face growing isolation as friends / partners die and health deteriorates - especially women who live longer
growing dependence on children
breakdown of extended families and kin due to growing individualisation = family support not available
further pressure on caring services by local authorities
disadvantages of ageing population - more ill health / disability
more likely to develop mental / physical problems
impairments develop with age - mobility issues etc which can create disabilities
rising cost for NHS etc
disadvantages of ageing population - family stress
emotional strain / overcrowding if elderly relative moves in
may cause conflict between couples or between family members
disadvantages of ageing population - more work for women
feminists point out patriarchal burdens of caring for elderly falls to women in family
older women taking on more caring responsibilities - 25% women aged 50-64 regularly caring for relatives vs 17% men
disadvantages of ageing population - housing shortages
young people may struggle to find affordable housing as older people occupy houses longer
marxists view of old age in capitalist society
old age = increased poverty as can no longer sell labour to bring income to give them acceptable standard of living
old are no use to capitalism as they arent productive - state unwilling to support them so family must take responsibility
postmodernist views of old age in society
fixed orderly stages of life course have broken down
consumption not production is key to identities
old become market for body rejuvenation goods and services to create identities
trends break down ageist stereotypes in modern society
postmodernist views of old age in society - HUNT 
consumption defines us so we can choose lifestyle and identity regardless of age which no longer determines who we are or how we live
2 features of postmodern society undermining old age as stigmatised life stage
centrality of media - media images now portray positive aspects of lifestyles of elderly
emphasis on surface features - body becomes surface on which we can write identities