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Is an ageing society a good or bad thing?
I've been struck by the rise of ageing as a big public and political issue in the last 5 years. David Willets' latest book The Pinch is one manifestation of the ageing debate. Another is the rising power of the older voter. Age UK has just released data showing that older voters now form a substantial block of voters in a large number of marginal electoral constituencies.
There is a tendency to view ageing through a particular lens depending on your position. To some people the silver tsunami threatens to overwhelm our public services and create massive taxpayer burden. For others the opportunities of an ageing society are significnat and growing but relatively untapped.
What is particularly interesting from my point of view is that the capacity of older people to contribute to social change is enormous given the experience and the time that many older people can choose to devote to community projects.
I am interested in setting up a project in relation to ageing within the RSA fellowship. If you have a view or would be interested in being part of the discussion please respond to this message.
Tags: ageing
Views: 32
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tessy Britton on -
Hi Andrew
This is an extremely important topic - really pleased you raised this.
In the US they did an important and interesting research project in 2008 called More to Give - Tapping the Talents of the Baby Boomer, Silent and Greatest Generations - which you can download here.
For me there are a number of levels: Valuing people's talents and capacities; effective and meaningful social impact ... and improving people's own wellbeing by creating opportunities for them to contribute .
One of the striking aspects of their report was the focus on generational pessimism:
"Fifty-five percent of Experienced Americans believe they will leave the world in worse condition than they inherited it, while only 20 percent believe they are leaving the world in better condition. Those most actively engaged in volunteer work feel less pessimistic and are more likely to increase their service than those not engaged."
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Permalink Reply by Viv Long-Ferguson on -
I am keen to be involved with this project. Ageing cannot be reversed (yet) and it is a process that we all experience. Picking up on Tessy's point on pessimism, why do not celebrate our ageing society? So much of media, organisational and society is focused on the youth generation. I want to see a society where we bridge the gaps between ages so that the stories and learnings are not lost and forgotton.
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Permalink Reply by Tessy Britton on
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I like your suggestions very much Vivs!
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Chidgey on -
Thanks all for comments and suggestions. I am going to follow these up and then arrange a discussion with some interested people and see where we might be able to take it.
I think attitudes to ageing are changing - slowly. Those who watched the first leaders' debate in the election campaign would have noticed that care of older people came up in the questioning. I'm not sure any of them answered the point fully but it is certainly the case that ageing is featuring strongly as a public concern requiring political response.
I was talking to a lady with Alzheimer's and her husband on Wednesday (I work for Alzheimer's Society). They are still both very independent and she is in the early stages of the condition. They like going on holiday but when then tell the holiday insurance company that she has Alzheimer's the cost of the holiday suddenly gooes up massively. This is not based on risk but a blanket assumption about a medical condition which is similarly related to outdated attitudes about older people. A society in which it is possible to age well? Not yet.......
Thanks
Andrew
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Permalink Reply by Frances C .A Gallager on -
I would be pleased to join this group do not have a geat deal of time but glad to be supportive when I can.From an ageing educationist- but only on my passport and lifeong learner. Maybe we can set up a collaborative programme in UK to look at what is being done, by whom and how in relation to tapping into wisdom of years and lessons learnt. Why do folks keep inventing the wheel? even coggly wheels?. Wise man learn from other's mistakes and not really necessary to make them all over again. Skill is how to learn etc.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Johnson on -
Viv Long-Ferguson said:I am keen to be involved with this project. Ageing cannot be reversed (yet) and it is a process that we all experience. Picking up on Tessy's point on pessimism, why do not celebrate our ageing society? So much of media, organisational and society is focused on the youth generation. I want to see a society where we bridge the gaps between ages so that the stories and learnings are not lost and forgotton.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Johnson on
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i am very interested in this. at least since the Bullock report some educators have recognised the importance of adult time for children to be successful in achieving their potential. Eric Hawkins in 1984 even talks about how this precious adult time has been 'stolen' from the nation's children and teenagers and how the restoration of it could improve educational prospects dramatically. yet many of our schools no longer admit the grannies and grandads who used to come in and read with children or generally just give them face to face time. I would be keen to consider how our huge skills can contribute to the nation's economy by contributing this valuable resource to education, training and mentoring
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Permalink Reply by Charles Miller-Fik on -
Hi Andrew
An interesting and emerging theme / discussion area - one that I would like to follow. Chronology is often the pre-occupation of such debates - rather than function and adaptation.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Johnson on
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Over the last couple of years of austerity I think the demonisation of the old has increased - and I can see why although I don't agree with it. How can we add to a more unified society, where we can appreciate the contributions of all ages? And possibly even unite young and old? I grew up in a world where older people routinely mentored the young at work and were well respected for it. My example comes from the Yorkshire pits where many trades were taught by the old to the young.
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