Podcast Episode 4. An Ageing Society.

Welcome to episode 4 of the Leg Club podcast. Hello, I am Ellie Lunacy and today I am going to talk about an ageing society. The advent of an aged society facing the fast growing population globally has become a serious issue which is placing demands on the changing culture within governments. As population ageing continues and due to demographic and social changes, community exclusion of older people may become one of the most critical society issues as the proportion of older people who are living alone is increasing and they are at higher risk of social isolation. Living and ageing well are key components of health promotion strategies, yet one major challenge in ageing societies today is how to create meaningful pathways for older persons to experience late life, living and simultaneously contribute towards our modern day society. For many young people, retirement evokes images of inactive older persons, yet many seniors are living longer and enjoying better health in their later years, and retirement has become an extremely active phase of their life. The benefits of lifelong learning extend beyond knowledge acquisition to positive impact on physical, mental and social well-being of the older adults, offering opportunities to make a significant social contribution to their local communities, making this a new culture for seniors. Social engagement of the retiree is an important issue for organisations to actively respond to the challenges of population ageing. With demographic changes we are increasingly seeing the over 65 age group living in social isolation owing to movement of their families and communities becoming more fragmented due to the changes in the social class. Health is an invaluable resource for older people and it is important for quality of life. However, since January 2020, the impact of a global coronavirus pandemic has challenged everyday lives, especially when confronted with enforced lockdown. Social distancing measures imposed by the UK government required people in certain risk categories, including the over 70 age group who suddenly found themselves labelled as vulnerable, to self-isolate for many weeks, provoking frustration and anger for many who led fit, unhealthy lives. While many elders understood the importance of keeping safe due to their age, it alienated those who felt patronised and undervalued for their contribution to society. Living and ageing well are key components of health promotion strategies, yet the ageing population is changing rapidly because of many issues, including economic need and Covid illness. And more recently, the pandemic and its ramifications have enforced social isolation, seniors being at higher risk of disability, poor recovering from illness and depression. Additionally, nearly half of the elderly live alone in the UK are in poverty. Although poverty levels are lower than they were 20 years ago, 2 million, that's 16% of our pensioners in the UK live in poverty and worryingly numbers have started to grow in recent years. An example of ageist attitudes was demonstrated when a mature professional colleague was taken ill and contacted the emergency service in the early hours of the morning. On arrival and after an assessment, the team expressed concerns that she was living alone in an isolated village and raised questions regarding how she kept herself occupied living in such a remote area. Due to her age, the implication was that she should consider moving to a community-style living establishment for older people. This was a classic stereotype example of how vulnerable labels are assigned to seniors which are formed under the influence of traditions, society and media which are closely related to culture. Such attitudes affect expectations of older individuals and beliefs about their personality, preferences, capability and weaknesses. Yet many seniors are living longer and have a productive career and social life and enjoy better health and well-being into their later years. The advent of the aged society has become a serious issue within the UK. Our lives now are based on a shifting sound approach as we face challenges in this era of post-pandemic uncertainty of what will become a post-lockdown way of a normal life. However, during the pandemic we have adapted to change in our everyday behaviour and lifestyles and witnessed a reconnection of generations and working together by becoming involved in our communities. Examples have been seen in the practical support, all of which have strengthened community spirit. On a personal note, I have been inspired by international sharing of creativity from friends and colleagues through technical communication, such a wonder in our day. As we emerge out of a crisis, we need to maintain our intergenerational community spirit and have a strong focus on helping the older generation, as opposed to regressing to an age-segregated society. Thank you.