Older people living longer, healthier lives

Older people are living longer, healthier lives than they did ten years ago, according to a new report.

Not only has life expectancy for those over 65 increased, but healthy life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy at age 65, have increased.

Pensioners are also better off than they were ten years ago with their average income growing faster than earnings and their net income growing 29% between 1997-2007.

Minister Rosie Winterton said: "We should celebrate the fact that people are now living longer, healthier lives. In the next 20 years more than half of us will be over 50. It is vital that we address the needs of increasing numbers of older people across a whole range of areas and that is why we are developing a new strategy for an ageing society.

"Younger people now can expect to live longer than ever before. This brings great opportunities to live a more fulfilling older life.

Young people should start to think about what kind of life they want to lead when they are older and what they can do now to prepare for it."

The report "Opportunity Age Indicators" looks at progress made since the Government published their strategy for an ageing society in 2005. The new strategy will build on this and address four key areas:

creating an age friendly society, preparing for later life, living well in later life and providing stronger protection and support.

Other research published today also shows that a little bit of help can make a big difference to older people.

The results from a series of pilot schemes across the country show older people welcome help with little jobs such as gardening and small household chores, help that can't always be provided by local authorities. Mental stimulation such as opportunities to volunteer in their communities and chances to take up further education were also shown to improve the well-being of older people.

Rosie Winterton continued: "It needn't take a lot to make a big difference to older people. A little bit of help and some joined-up working can make big improvements to the well-being of pensioners."

The LinkAge Plus pilots promote older people's independence and develop partnerships between agencies and sectors. This has led to better working between agencies, joining-up existing and new provision so that older people are able to access services through single access points.