A report examined reported feelings of loneliness by people in England aged 52 and over. Two-thirds (66 per cent) of respondents reported being lonely hardly ever or never; 25 per cent said that they felt lonely sometimes; and only 9 per cent said that they felt lonely often. A higher percentage of those aged 80 and over reported feeling lonely some of the time or often when compared with other age groups. Those who reported feeling lonely sometimes or often were much more likely to report a lower level of satisfaction with their lives overall. 2 in every 5 individuals who lived alone reported that they hardly ever or never felt lonely. People who had been widowed, separated or divorced, or those who were in poor health, were more likely to report feeling lonely.
Source: Jen Beaumont, Measuring National Well-Being: Older People and Loneliness, 2013, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2013-Apr
A report examined, for those aged 50 and over, two measures used for measuring national well-being. A higher percentage of people aged 50 and over (70 per cent) were satisfied with the amount of their leisure time compared with all those aged 16 and over (61 per cent). A higher percentage of those who were satisfied with the amount of their leisure time were also satisfied with their life overall. About 1 in 5 people aged 50 and over had volunteered more than once in the previous 12 months, but this varied by age group. Volunteering was also associated with greater overall life satisfaction.
Source: Theodore Joloza, Measuring National Well-being: Older People's Leisure Time and Volunteering, Office for National Statistics
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
A think-tank report examined how well developed (OECD) countries lived up to the principles of inter-generational justice. It considered how clearly such principles could be measured, and how cross-national comparisons could help foster more strategic policy-making.
Source: Pieter Vanhuysse, Intergenerational Justice in Aging Societies: A cross-national comparison of 29 OECD countries, Bertelsmann Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2013-Apr
An article examined levels of social engagement among older residents of a disadvantaged urban community, and their link with well-being and community attachment.
Source: Roger Beech and Michael Murray, 'Social engagement and healthy ageing in disadvantaged communities', Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume 14 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined asset-based approaches for promoting active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in European countries.
Source: Guy Robertson, 'The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe', Working with Older People, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
An article said that an active ageing strategy could provide a basis for European countries to respond to the challenges presented by an ageing population. But this strategy needed to reflect the need for a partnership between citizens and society, and be comprehensive, non-coercive, and inclusive in its approach. In particular, it needed to acknowledge the gendered nature of ageing and previous life course events, and to emphasize well-being rather than just the production of resources and services.
Source: Liam Foster and Alan Walker, 'Gender and active ageing in Europe', European Journal of Ageing, Volume 10 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Mar
A report examined the impact of ageing on society and what this meant in terms of innovation. It said that a systematic look at people's lives in the context of changing demographics was required, with a priority on the issues that had most impact on older people.
Source: Halima Khan, Five Hours a Day: Systematic innovation for an ageing population, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts
Links: Report | Newcastle University press release
Date: 2013-Mar
A report by a committee of peers said that the government was 'woefully underprepared' for the ageing society. A rapidly ageing population would have a huge impact on society and public services. Unless the government and all political parties addressed this, the gift of longer life could lead to a series of crises.
Source: Ready for Ageing?, Report (Session 2012–13), HL 140, House of Lords Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change, TSO
Links: Report | Oral and written evidence | Committee press release | Alzheimers Society press release | CBI press release | CIH press release | ILCUK press release | Kings Fund press release | Labour Party press release | Newcastle University press release | NHF press release | NIACE press release | TUC blog post | BBC report | Daily Mail report | Guardian report | Inside Housing report | Public Finance report
Date: 2013-Mar
An article examined labour market and family experiences from late adolescence to retirement age among a group of older adults, and how these experiences were related to economic resources and health at age 65. Five latent life paths broadly characterized the work and family experiences of older adults in the sample. They were distinguished by gender, labour market and family care activities, marital status, and the presence of children in the household. Better economic resource and mental health outcomes were found among the pathways describing predominantly male experiences: but the heterogeneity of women's experiences should also be noted, and their implications for economic and health outcomes at retirement age.
Source: Laurie Corna and Amanda Sacker, 'A lifetime of experience: modeling the labour market and family histories of older adults in Britain', Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, Volume 4 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
An article examined volunteering by older people across Europe and the evidence for its benefits for health and well-being
Source: Guy Robertson, 'The contribution of volunteering and a wider asset based approach to active ageing and intergenerational solidarity in Europe', Working with Older People, Volume 17 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Feb
A paper examined the impact of learning on the well-being of older adults. Learning was associated with higher well-being after controlling for a range of other factors. There was strong evidence that more informal types of learning were associated with higher well-being. There was also some evidence that obtaining qualifications was linked to higher well-being, but no evidence that formal education/training courses were associated with higher well-being.
Source: Andrew Jenkins and Tarek Mostafa, Learning and Wellbeing Trajectories among Older Adults in England, Working Paper 13-02, Department of Quantitative Social Science, Institute of Education (University of London)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined ageing and pension provision in the European Union. It looked at how an active ageing framework could be utilized to improve the pension situation of older people. This included the use of a more comprehensive approach to active ageing that encompassed a life-course perspective. This framework should emphasize the potential benefits older people presented for society, and their well-being.
Source: Liam Foster, 'Active ageing and pensions in the European Union', Journal of Comparative Social Welfare, Volume 28 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper examined gender inequalities in old age in Europe. It considered measures implemented in the main policy areas of active ageing (employment; training and life-long learning; volunteer/community work; age-friendly environment; and supportive services) in order to identify effective strategies from a gender equality perspective.
Source: Marcella Corsi and Manuela Samek Lodovici, Active Ageing and Gender Equality, Working Paper 13/004, Centre Emile Bernheim (Brussels)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
An article examined the hypothesis that the relationship between social class and quality of life in older people was due to the influence of social class on the perception that individuals had about their place in a social hierarchy. Even among those in employment, a subjective measure of social status explained quality of life better than the National Statistics Socio-Economic Classification. This effect was independent of advantageous occupational conditions, favourable life circumstances, or mental health.
Source: Gopalakrishnan Netuveli and Mel Bartley, 'Perception is reality: effect of subjective versus objective socio-economic position on quality of life', Sociology, Volume 46 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2013-Jan
A new book examined the adoption of 'active ageing' policies by European Union nations, and the impact on older people's work and retirement policy options.
Source: Kate Hamblin, Active Ageing in the European Union: Policy convergence and divergence, Palgrave Macmillan
Links: Summary
Date: 2013-Jan
A paper examined age-related changes in subjective well-being in later life. Older people had better subjective well-being than younger ones for each well-being measure, except at the oldest age for quality of life. Nonetheless, deterioration in well-being was greater at older ages, even when adjusting for age-related changes in later life, including widowhood, retirement, and declining health.
Source: Stephen Jivraj, Bram Vanhoutte, James Nazroo, and Tarani Chandola, Age, Ageing and Subjective Wellbeing in Later Life, Working Paper 2013-05, Centre for Census and Survey Research (University of Manchester)
Links: Paper
Date: 2013-Jan
