ageing population (consequence of falling death rate)

1. ageing population increases the dependency ratio

dependency ratio = proportion of the non working population that are dependant the working population.

• burden of dependency = not enough people of working age who pay tax are able to support the ageing dependent population.

• which results in a cut in services.

AO3:

• govt. increased retirement age to 66

2. strain on the NHS

• elderly people have greater need for healthcare services e.g. hip replacements

• each trust can choose to withdraw certain services to save money, which is hard due to the demands of an ageing population

AO3:

• not all experience health problems, rich elders go private.

3. ageism

• discrimination against the old in society

• marxists → this is because old people can’t work so they lack power. PHILLIPSON says in a capitalist society, being able to work is the main source of status and identity.

• elderly are seen as low status and their care falls upon female relatives

AO3:

POSTMODERNISTS → overgeneralised, HUNT says we have choice in creating our lifestyles despite our age, consumption fuels our identity,

• the elderly have a choice of various rejuvenation products

• they’re also portrayed positively in the media

increasing the state pension age

(a state policy in response to the ageing population)

• would be 67 by 2028

• since living longer means people need sufficient savings to fund a longer retirement

‘ACTIVE AGEING’ → people work longer and postpone retirement

IMPACT:

• less support with childcare → puts a financial strain on family members

• decline in dual earner families → can no longer rely on grandparents

bedroom tax (2012)

(a state policy in response to the ageing population)

• ageing population increased the demand for housing

• council tenants with a spare bedroom recieve less housing benefit and are encouraged to move out, giving more room for families.

IMPACT:

• elderly become disconnected from family → have to move away.

means testing and privatisation of care needs

• govt. can’t afford to provide residential care for all the elderly so local authorities means test care needs

• low income elderly people qualify for state-funded services e.g. carers, transport, meals.

• care has become privatised, expensive. e.g. £20 an hour for a carer.

IMPACT:

• more women take on carer responsibilities - turning them into sandwich carers (care for young children and elderly parents). this limits their career prospects.

CONSEQUENCES OF AGEING POPULATION ON FAMILY STRUCTURE

1. more beanpole families → can be a mutually beneficial arrangement and they can pool resources and share costs. e.g. unpaid childcare in return for the children to care for them later.

2. more one person households → mostly female elderly after husband passed away, lonely and isolated, individualism has caused people too be busy with their own lives e.g. across the work, to look after their elderly family. (this puts pressure on social care services)

3. more reconstituted families → since life is longer people more likely to practice serial monogamy