The opportunity of ageing The opportunity of ageing researchresearchLaunch of the Centre for AgeingLaunch of the Centre for Ageing

Research and Development in IrelandResearch and Development in Ireland

Dublin 3.4.08 Dublin 3.4.08

Professor Anthea Tinker, Institute ofProfessor Anthea Tinker, Institute of

Gerontology, King’s College LondonGerontology, King’s College Londonanthea.tinker@kcl.ac.ukanthea.tinker@kcl.ac.uk

Outline of presentationOutline of presentation

1. Why ageing research is 1. Why ageing research is importantimportant

2. The opportunities it presents2. The opportunities it presents 3. The challenges it presents3. The challenges it presents 4. Some conclusions4. Some conclusions

1. Reasons why ageing 1. Reasons why ageing research is importantresearch is important a. Demographica. Demographic b. Economicb. Economic c. Socialc. Social d. Technologicald. Technological e. Politicale. Political

Why ageing research is Why ageing research is important: Demographic important: Demographic reasonsreasonsAn ageing population: A growing % ofAn ageing population: A growing % of

older people. A larger increase for ROIolder people. A larger increase for ROI

ROI NIROI NI

% of total popn 60*+ 2006 15 19% of total popn 60*+ 2006 15 19

% of total popn 60*+ 2050** 32 32% of total popn 60*+ 2050** 32 32

Source: ROI UN (2006), NI Central Statistical Office (2006)Source: ROI UN (2006), NI Central Statistical Office (2006)

* This is the definition for older people used by the UN* This is the definition for older people used by the UN

** Projections** Projections

Why ageing research is Why ageing research is important: Demographic important: Demographic reasonsreasonsAn ageing population: A growing % of An ageing population: A growing % of very old people (% of people aged 80+very old people (% of people aged 80+as % of people 60+). A larger increaseas % of people 60+). A larger increasein NIin NI ROI NIROI NI2006* 17 192006* 17 192050** 24 342050** 24 34

Source: ROI UN (2006), NI Central Statistical Office (2006)Source: ROI UN (2006), NI Central Statistical Office (2006)* This is the definition for older people used by the UN* This is the definition for older people used by the UN** Projections** Projections

Why ageing is important: Why ageing is important: Demographic reasonsDemographic reasonsChanging potential support ratios show that Changing potential support ratios show that

there will be a decline in people of workingthere will be a decline in people of working

age to older people. age to older people.

Support ratios*:Support ratios*:

ROI NIROI NI

2006 17 192006 17 19

2050** 2 22050** 2 2Source: UN (2006) Support ratio is the number of people of working age per Source: UN (2006) Support ratio is the number of people of working age per

person 65+person 65+

** Projections** Projections

Changing support ratiosChanging support ratios

The effect of a smaller proportion The effect of a smaller proportion of people of working age:of people of working age:

- The ‘burden’ of pensionsThe ‘burden’ of pensions- Smaller numbers of workers to care Smaller numbers of workers to care

for a larger number of older peoplefor a larger number of older people- Should older people be encouraged Should older people be encouraged

to stay on in the workforce or take to stay on in the workforce or take on new jobs?on new jobs?

Older people can return Older people can return to work in caring to work in caring professionsprofessions

Why ageing research is Why ageing research is important: Economic important: Economic reasonsreasons- Older people absorb a high % of national- Older people absorb a high % of national and local budgets. In England 2001-02 and local budgets. In England 2001-02

average costs per person for hospital and average costs per person for hospital and community health services p.a. were:community health services p.a. were:

Under 5s £1,172Under 5s £1,172 5-15 £2595-15 £259 85+ £3,31585+ £3,315 average £646average £646- There are important employment issues when - There are important employment issues when

older people retire both for them and for older people retire both for them and for societysociety

Why ageing research is Why ageing research is important: Social reasonsimportant: Social reasonsSocial reasons include where people live.Social reasons include where people live.- In ROI nearly half of older people live in rural - In ROI nearly half of older people live in rural

areas areas compared with one third in NI.compared with one third in NI.- Research can show both where older people Research can show both where older people

live and their wishes for the future (e.g. live and their wishes for the future (e.g. different kinds of housing including new different kinds of housing including new patterns of living)patterns of living)

- Family patterns are important too. Research Family patterns are important too. Research can help establish both the need for care and can help establish both the need for care and who is available to give it (e.g. the effect of who is available to give it (e.g. the effect of cohabitation and divorce) cohabitation and divorce)

Why ageing research is Why ageing research is important:important:Technological reasonsTechnological reasons Developments in technology will Developments in technology will

have great implications for older have great implications for older people (e.g falls detectors)people (e.g falls detectors)

A new generation of older people will A new generation of older people will be much more used to technologybe much more used to technology

Technology may improve the lives of Technology may improve the lives of older people with dementia and their older people with dementia and their carers (e.g. passive alarms) carers (e.g. passive alarms)

Why ageing research is Why ageing research is important: Political important: Political reasonsreasons The growing importance of larger The growing importance of larger

numbers of older people as votersnumbers of older people as voters Growing attention to the importance of Growing attention to the importance of

older people being more involved in older people being more involved in decision making (e.g. the European Year decision making (e.g. the European Year of Older People in 1994 and the of Older People in 1994 and the subsequent setting up of the Irish Senior subsequent setting up of the Irish Senior Citizen’s Parliament in 1996) Citizen’s Parliament in 1996)

But note that the average age for most But note that the average age for most MPs is relatively highMPs is relatively high

2. The opportunities 2. The opportunities presented by ageing presented by ageing researchresearch The opportunities to change policies in the The opportunities to change policies in the

light of research e.g. long term carelight of research e.g. long term care The greater likelihood of funding e.g. from The greater likelihood of funding e.g. from

government departments and research government departments and research councilscouncils

The chance to be involved in international The chance to be involved in international projects e.g. the Irish Longitudinal Research projects e.g. the Irish Longitudinal Research on Ageing (TILDA) researchon Ageing (TILDA) research

The chance to do more multidisciplinary The chance to do more multidisciplinary research (see next slide)research (see next slide)

The opportunities The opportunities presented by ageing presented by ageing research (ctd)research (ctd) The chance to improve services for older people The chance to improve services for older people

(note especially Atlantic Philanthropies as funders (note especially Atlantic Philanthropies as funders of both services and research). Note their aims of both services and research). Note their aims across the world which include ensuring that older across the world which include ensuring that older adults:adults:

- Are treated with dignity and respectAre treated with dignity and respect- Are fully empowered to shape their own destiniesAre fully empowered to shape their own destinies- Have excellent health and support systemsHave excellent health and support systems- Have representation by a stronger cadre of leadersHave representation by a stronger cadre of leaders- Are able to contribute their expertise, wisdom and Are able to contribute their expertise, wisdom and

abilities to societyabilities to societyIn my view Atlantic has been a catalyst for important In my view Atlantic has been a catalyst for important initiatives although this is not to belie what others initiatives although this is not to belie what others have done. have done.

2. The opportunities 2. The opportunities presented by ageing presented by ageing research (ctd)research (ctd) The opportunities to learn from each The opportunities to learn from each

other in the 2 countries (e.g. the other in the 2 countries (e.g. the development of end of life care in ROI development of end of life care in ROI and advocacy in NI) and advocacy in NI)

Pragmatically: the possibility of Pragmatically: the possibility of attracting researchers from other parts attracting researchers from other parts of the world (including wooing back of of the world (including wooing back of researchers from the UK)researchers from the UK)

The chance to do more multidisciplinary The chance to do more multidisciplinary research (see next slide)research (see next slide)

The opportunities for The opportunities for multidisciplinary researchmultidisciplinary research The different disciplines each The different disciplines each

contribute a perspective which contribute a perspective which together makes up a wholetogether makes up a whole

Some topics such as falls need Some topics such as falls need approaches from different disciplines approaches from different disciplines such as medical, environmental, such as medical, environmental, psychological psychological

Complementary skills can be usedComplementary skills can be used It is stimulating for researchersIt is stimulating for researchers

3. The challenges 3. The challenges presented by ageing presented by ageing researchresearch There is more interest in children on There is more interest in children on

the whole than older people both in the whole than older people both in policy terms and research (e.g. policy terms and research (e.g. compare child abuse with elder compare child abuse with elder abuse)abuse)

Historically an under funded area of Historically an under funded area of researchresearch

Most research in the past has been Most research in the past has been medicalmedical

The challenge of The challenge of multidisciplinary researchmultidisciplinary research It is time consumingIt is time consuming There are different languagesThere are different languages There are different methodologiesThere are different methodologies May be different locationsMay be different locations Professionals may not appreciate Professionals may not appreciate

each others approacheseach others approaches There may be problems of statusThere may be problems of status

Similarities between Similarities between multidisciplinary research and that multidisciplinary research and that between North and South in between North and South in Ireland?Ireland? There are wonderful opportunitiesThere are wonderful opportunities There may also be potential There may also be potential

problems which need to be problems which need to be addressed such as the greater addressed such as the greater time and costs of working time and costs of working togethertogether

Some conclusionsSome conclusions

Ageing research is here to stayAgeing research is here to stay There is great value in co-ordination of the There is great value in co-ordination of the

type that CARDI is designed to providetype that CARDI is designed to provide There are still many questions which need There are still many questions which need

answering e.g. the differences between the answering e.g. the differences between the way men and women ageway men and women age

We can all learn from each other (but it is We can all learn from each other (but it is just as important to share failures as it is just as important to share failures as it is successes and we need the courage to do successes and we need the courage to do that).that).

Some conclusionsSome conclusions

Intergenerational links have never Intergenerational links have never been needed more and ageing been needed more and ageing research can contribute to thatresearch can contribute to that

Older people are more likely in the Older people are more likely in the future to have a bigger say in what future to have a bigger say in what is researched and how it is to be is researched and how it is to be done (e.g. as exemplified in Age and done (e.g. as exemplified in Age and Opportunity’s Strategy Plan 2006-Opportunity’s Strategy Plan 2006-2008). This should be embraced. 2008). This should be embraced.