OPPORTUNITY AGE: meeting the challenges of an ageing society UK Government strategy on ageing Janet Mills Government Office for the East Midlands

OPPORTUNITY AGE: why do we need a strategy? More older people: almost 25m over age 50 by 2021 – 40% of the population More very old people: the percentage of the population aged over 85 will double between now and 2031 and treble by 2051(1.8% to 3.8% to 6%). Older people have increasingly high expectations

OPPORTUNITY AGE: BACKGROUND Government published its ageing strategy document ‘Opportunity Age – Meeting the challenges of ageing in the 21 st century’ in March 2005 This represents the first ever cross-government strategy that looks specifically at the issues facing society as people live longer, healthier lives ‘Opportunity Age’ sets out the work to date by the Government and its partners and sketches out new approaches and relationships to meet the needs of our ageing society

OPPORTUNITY AGE: WHAT DO OLDER PEOPLE WANT? Growing evidence base that older people want: Independence in their own home (compatible with reduced mobility) Opportunities and choices, including social opportunities Security: income, health, safety Care when care is necessary Respect from those they deal with Source: Audit Commission–Independence and well-being in later life, DWP research–Independent living in later life

OPPORTUNITY AGE: IMPLICATIONS Need to move away from assumptions that people over age 65 are automatically “pensioners” and “dependent” Need to promote active, healthy ageing, so longer life is healthier life for all Need to modernise public services – choice and control, with personal responsibility

KEY ELEMENTS OF AGEING STRATEGY Ageing and the workforce: extending working lives and promoting saving for retirement Active ageing: promotion of healthy living, volunteering, leisure, learning, community participation Services: services which support well-being and independence Leadership: providing the right incentives for local authorities to drive delivery of the strategy locally

OPPORTUNITY AGE; meeting the challenge of an ageing society In order to prepare for the age shift between now and mid century and Meet older people’s aspirations for better lives; We must Ensure that longer life is healthy and fulfilling End perception of older people as ‘dependent’ Ensure older people are full participants in society.

THREE MAIN STRANDS Work and financial security Active ageing Services which support well-being and independence And… Organising to deliver – Central and local leadership; machinery, levers and incentives; monitoring and evaluation

IMPROVING SERVICES The Pension Service LinkAge Plus Individual Budgets POPPs A New Ambition for Old Age – Improving hospital and care services to ensure older people retain their dignity, receive joined up care, and age healthily SEU’s report ‘A Sure Start to later life’ – action plan on exclusion

ORGANISING TO DELIVER Cabinet sub-committee on Ageing Policy Establish a set of Indicators of well-being and independence Local Area Agreements – Health and Older People block Shared priority on older people in CPA Local and central govt leadership Involving older people Comprehensive spending review – draw up a cross-government approach to the needs of older people and an ageing society for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review Performance frameworks

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