And yes the UK’s population is undergoing a massive age shift. By 2050, one in four people will be over 65. But there is a concern in the tone used here that risks pointing the finger at older people and stoking intergenerational conflict.
The fact that many of us are living longer is a great achievement. And a crying shame that, for the lack of preventative healthcare and equal opportunity for healthy ageing, that many more are deprived of the chance for long lives.
The vision should not be how do we stop too many older people overburdening the NHS, the vision should be how do we help everyone to have the best chance of a living a long and healthy life.
It is right that a significant focus of the 10 Year Plan is to move care back into the community. In many cases, a hospital is no place for a sick person. But much resource has been removed from communities in recent times and so we need to ensure that there are sufficient financial resources for the role we want community to play.
Our own research has shown how community organisations, when properly resourced, contribute to healthy ageing, in particular with a preventative element of providing opportunities to remain living independently, active and aiding social participation.
With the ambition to move care from hospital to community, there also needs to be recognition that increased care at home means increased pressure on informal carers. We need to make sure systems are in place to support carers, such as paid carers’ leave to help more people balance paid work with caring responsibilities.