The state of ageing: How will future generations fare?

We are experiencing a colossal demographic shift, living 10 years longer than our parents’ generation on average and nearly two decades longer than our grandparents’ generation. In just 15 years, the UK will have 1.2 million more people aged 85 and over than it does today – an increase of nearly 70% in this age group alone. This social revolution has implications for every part of our society and how we think about and live our lives. So how should we respond?

This interactive event explored the issues affecting people’s quality of later life today and what kind of older age people in their 50s and 60s can expect to experience.The debate included what needs to change if more of us are to enjoy later life.

It was chaired by Yvonne Roberts, freelance journalist, writer and broadcaster, and featured a panel of experts. The event marked the launch of our flagship report ‘The State of Ageing 2019’. Using a wide range of publicly available datasets, the report gives a snapshot of ageing today and in the future. We will be tracking progress in four key areas we know make a difference to people’s later lives: health, homes, work and communities.

The event was held at the Barbican in London to coincide with a four-month public exhibition about ageing called ‘Unclaimed’. 

• Chair: Yvonne Roberts, freelance journalist, writer and broadcaster
• Dr Anna Dixon, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better
• Dr Daniel Davis, Wellcome Trust Clinical Fellow and Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at UCL
• The Lord Best, OBE DL
• John Pullinger, UK National Statistician, Head of the Government Statistical Service (GSS) and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority

Catch up:

Listen to the full discussion through the link below

Click through the event slides using this link: