Is poor health driving a rise in economic inactivity?
The Health Foundation – October 2022
This new analysis finds that the nation’s underlying ill-health is the primary reason for the rise in the number of older workers leaving employment. The report states that the government’s Growth Plan must ensure older workers with poor health who have involuntarily left the labour market altogether are supported to move back into work. Read more
Work for tomorrow: Can innovation support work in an ageing world?
International Longevity Centre UK – September 2022
The International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) has been running its two-year programme, ‘Work for tomorrow’, supported by the Innovation Resource Center for HR, to identify the challenges and innovations in responding to an ageing workforce. This paper provides practical advice for employers who want to respond to an ageing workforce but don’t know where to start. Read more
Is working in later life good for your health? A systematic review of health outcomes resulting from extended working lives
Baxter S et al, BMC Public Health (2021) 21:1356
Extending working life (particularly part-time) may have benefits or a neutral effect for some, but adverse effects for others in high demand or low reward jobs. There is the potential for widening health inequalities between those who can choose to reduce their working hours and those who need to continue working full-time for financial reasons. Read more
Health and place: How levelling up health can keep older workers working
International Longevity Centre UK – October 2022
This report from the ILC finds that a quarter of a million older people could have stayed in paid employment longer if the levelling up health targets had been achieved a decade ago. Read more
Investigating the impact on mental wellbeing of an increase in pensions
Albani V et al, Social Science & Medicine, 311 (115316) October 2022
Using a longitudinal analysis of area-level deprivation in England, this study examines changes in pensioner mental health, following the introduction of the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) in 1999. Although there was no improvement in mental wellbeing for women, there was a measurable improvement for men, particularly for those living in more deprived areas. Read more
The rise of the retirement roomie
International Longevity Centre UK – October 2022
House sharing isn’t just for the young according to new survey which found that one in three people over 55 would consider having a housemate in later life to save money and avoid living alone. Read more
Interesting times: assessing the impact of rising interest rates on mortgagors’ living standards
Resolution Foundation – October 2022
This paper analyses the impact of the rise in interest rates on the living standards of homeowners in Britain and forecasts that almost one-fifth of all households will be spending more on their housing costs by the end of 2024 than they were in 2022. Read more
Linking people and activities through community mobility – an international comparison of the mobility patterns of older drivers and non-drivers
Unsworth C et al, Ageing and Society, 42 (8) August 2022
This international comparison of mobility patterns in older drivers and non-drivers finds that, as expected, drivers access more out-of-home activities than non-drivers. Inclement weather and place-of-residence can negatively impact participation in out-of-home activities but do not seem to increase the use of public transport. Read more
The State of Care report: what you need to know
NHS Confederation – October 2022
This briefing provides a summary and analysis of the Care Quality Commission’s annual report on the state of health and care in England. The report highlights the gridlock experienced by patients trying to access care, including a reported 500,000 people waiting for a social care assessment. Read more
Falling short: how far have we come in improving support for unpaid carers in England?
Nuffield Trust – October 2022
People who provide unpaid care offer a vital role bridging gaps in state-funded support. But despite the laudable policy statements in support of carers, this report shows that the reality for unpaid carers has been one of diminishing help over time. Read more
Visual ageism and the subtle sexualisation of older celebrities in L’Oréal’s advert campaigns
Kenalemang L M, Ageing and Society, 42 (9) September 2022
Using multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA), this study examines the increased use of older celebrities in cosmetics advertising. Although older women’s sexuality is presented as a form of power, the analysis shows that the underlying discourse ‘pathologises’ ageing and presents it as something that can be evaded by the use of cosmetics. Read more
