Guardian event hears calls for a new social movement to achieve demographic change on the agenda
It was the issue that whispered rather than roared during the election campaign. With the number of over-85s set to double by 2030,we know there’s a enormous challenge ahead as our population ages. We know too that, as the Lords report on ageing achieve it, and the government and society are “woefully under-prepared”. Yet still politicians seem reluctant to face up to the impact this significant demographic change will have on everything from health and social care services,to pensions provision, employment practices and housing stock.
A panel of experts and an engaged audience at a Guardian event discussed what the government should enact to prepare for an ageing population. The lack of effective debate on the issue during the election campaign was down to politicians being afraid to confront some of the difficult choices ahead, and the event heard. “All political parties are running shocked of the pensioner vote – pensioners enact vote so you enact what they want you to enact,” said crossbench peer Lord Bichard, chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com