State Pension age review 2023
Department for Work and Pensions – March 2023
This collection includes the government report on the State Pension age, with other review documents including Baroness Neville-Rolfe’s independent review, the Government Actuary’s report, and a review of international evidence. The government report explains their position and provides proposals for next steps regarding any changes to the State Pension age. It confirms that the planned pension age rise from 66 to 67 for those born after April 1960 remains appropriate and that this change will come into effect by the end of 2028.
Understanding pension saving among the self-employed
Institute for Fiscal Studies – March 2023
This paper analyses patterns of private pension saving among self-employed workers in the UK using administrative tax data. It finds that private pension participation among the self-employed has been falling over time.
Policy initiatives to address the challenges of an older population in the workforce
Nagarajan N R, Sixsmith A, Ageing International, 48 (1) March 2023
An ageing population has increased the pressure for older people to work longer. This study provides an overview of recent policy initiatives to facilitate this change including the role of technology. It finds that key stakeholders, including employers and communities, are fully aware of both the issues and the need for appropriate policies to retain older people in the workforce.
Behavioral science and the facilitation of extended working lives – a commentary on how behavioral nudges can help counteract workplace ageism
Egdell V et al, The Journal of Aging and Social Change, 13 (2) March 2023
This study finds that, despite the economic and demographic pressures for people to work longer, ageism remains a major obstacle to extending working life. It argues that ‘behavioural science’, the systematic study of human behaviour, can provide insights into how these deeply ingrained attitudes and behaviours can be changed.
Public pension generosity and old-age poverty in OECD countries
Kuitto K et al, Journal of Social Policy, 52 (2) April 2023
This study looks at pensions and old-age poverty, in 14 advanced OECD welfare states, including the UK. It finds that, while the pension systems in place are ‘quite efficient’ in reducing the risk of old-age poverty, they do very little to alleviate poverty among those pensioners in the most disadvantaged situations.
Homes, neighbourhoods and communities
Trying times: How people living in poor quality housing have fared during the cost of living crisis
Resolution Foundation – April 2023
This report, using data from a March 2023 YouGov survey, looks at the experience of the cost of living crisis by tenure, the incidence of poor-quality housing, and the impact of poor-quality housing on health and wellbeing. It finds that people from disadvantaged groups are more likely to live in poor-quality housing. Even when accounting for income and demographic differences, poor-quality housing is associated with poorer physical and mental health.
National programmes for age-friendly cities and communities
World Health Organization – April 2023
This suite of resources, consisting of a guide and toolkit, aims to support every country to develop a national programme for age-friendly cities and communities.
Who is returning to public transport for non-work trips after COVID-19? – Evidence from older citizens’ smart cards in the UK’s second largest city region
Long A et al, Journal of Transport Geography, 107 (103529) February 2023
This study of older transport users in the West Midlands finds that, following the COVID-19 pandemic, minority ethnic and relatively younger passengers were more likely to quickly return to using public transport while those from White ethnic backgrounds or living in more affluent areas took longer to return. By 2022, 80% of passengers above retirement age had returned to public transport but used the system less frequently.
Technology-enabled lives: delivering outcomes for people and providers
TEC Action Alliance – March 2023
This paper (produced in partnership with over 30 organisations) highlights the lack of widespread adoption of digital social care services despite the public’s desire for technology to better support those who draw on social care and health services. Only a handful of councils, housing, and care organisations are delivering digital care in people’s homes at scale, despite evidence that using technology in social care keeps people safe, healthy, and happy at home. There is an accompanying co-production guide.
Bailed out and burned out? The financial impact of Covid-19 on UK care homes for older people and their workforce
Financial Impacts of Covid-19 on Care Homes – April 2023
This report reveals that government support worth over £2 billion helped the care home sector avoid financial collapse during the peak of the pandemic. However, when the support was removed, the sector experienced a crisis due to workforce shortages, inflation, and continuing infection outbreaks. It includes recommendations when planning for future epidemics.
Adult social care system reform: next steps to put People at the Heart of Care
Department of Health and Social Care – April 2023
This policy paper provides an update on the People at the Heart of Care white paper published in December 2021. It details how £700 million will be spent, including investment in improved access to care, support to enable people to remain independent at home and joining up services to support people and carers.
Tackling loneliness annual report: the fourth year
Department for Culture, Media & Sport – March 2023
The fourth annual report on tackling loneliness highlights progress made since the publication of the cross-government strategy in 2018 and commits to action over the next two years.
Trial and error: supporting age diversity in clinical trials
International Longevity Centre UK – April 2023
In an ageing world, more and more of us will be using medications later in life. However, despite the majority of medicine users being aged 60 and over, many trials still exclude older people. This report explores the barriers to age diversity in clinical trials.
Living (and dying) as an older person in prison
Nuffield Trust – April 2023
Tough conditions in prison disproportionately affect older prisoners, and they tend to be in poorer health than the general population. This research uses hospital data to look at the health care needs of those older people in prison.
The importance of meaningful participation – health benefits of volunteerism for older adults with mobility-limiting disabilities
Sellon A M, Ageing and Society, 43 (4) April 2023
Volunteering, while increasingly recognised as promoting good health in older adults, has largely been the domain of those who are in good health. This study from the USA, of volunteering by individuals who have serious difficulty in walking or climbing stairs, has identified a number of physical and emotional health benefits that are directly or indirectly related to being able to participate in meaningful activities.
Systematic review and meta-analyses of effective programs for reducing ageism toward older adults
Apriceno M, Levy S R, Journal of Applied Gerontology, OnlineFirst April 2023
This systematic review and meta-analysis examines intervention strategies to reduce ageism toward older adults. Effective interventions include both education about ageing and positive, in-person, intergenerational contact that is individualised and with equal status.
Anti-Ageism for Gerontologists
Morrow-Howell N et al, Journal of Aging & Social Policy, March 2023
This study argues that gerontologists are themselves products of our ageist culture and that they both perpetuate ageism and suffer from internalised ageism. It finds that gerontologists make ageist comments, deny their own age, fail to teach students to recognize and confront ageism, and use language that ‘otherises’ and categorises older people.
