We live in an ageing society. In the UK, the 2001 census has shown that, for the first time, there are more people aged 60 and over than children under 16. Ethnic diversity is also increasing rapidly among older people, as the first generation immigrants of the 1950s enter retirement. With increased longevity, the balance of life is changing, with older people now experiencing and expecting many more years of healthy life after retirement than ever before. This shift is going to continue.
According to the Government Actuary, over the next 40 years, the number of people aged below 65 will remain static, the number aged 65 to 84 will increase by about one-half and the number aged 85 and over will more than double. The implications for all of us as individuals, and for public services, are profound.
A fundamental shift is needed in the way that we think about older people, from dependency and deficit towards well-being and independence. Change will be necessary both in order to meet current demands and to 'future-proof' services against the new challenges of the next generation. This requires us to take full account of the whole range of issues that are important to older people, ensuring that policies on urban renewal, planning, transport, housing and leisure take their aspirations into account. Organisations need to work much better together, often in new partnerships and in new ways. Health and care services need to be seen as part of a much bigger picture in which older people take greater control and responsibility for their own health and care, albeit with advice and support. Most importantly, it requires us to listen to older people, from the fittest to the most frail, engaging with them as citizens with hopes for the future and with contributions to make to their communities.
This report has been prepared in collaboration with Better Government for Older People (BGOP), the partnership that aims to change attitudes towards our ageing population and highlight the contribution that older people make to their communities. The Audit Commission and BGOP have also worked closely with the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) and the Local Government Association (LGA) throughout the project. It is intended to be of use to all who have a role in working with older people, including those who are formulating policy and those who plan or deliver services. It is aimed at those who deliver services or other opportunities to older people as part of a wider brief, as well as staff working in NHS and social care services. Equally importantly, the report is for older people themselves, who may find it a useful tool when arguing for a broader strategic approach at a local level.