Ageing population: what can the UK learn from overseas?

Our rapidly ageing population raises a slew of questions for our society. How will we meet the cost of social care? What can we do to prevent isolation and loneliness? How can we promote the positive contribution that older people make to society?

Many developed nations are facing the same challenges. “Were all wrestling with the problems of social isolation and loneliness in one way or another,” said Mervyn Kohler, external affairs advisor to Age UK.

He added: “You cant assume that we can pick up a model from one country and transplant it over here, but … there are many more imaginative ways to address the growing problem.”

Here are five projects making an impact in managing an ageing population.

Germany

Alongside regular taxes, German citizens pay into a social insurance scheme which pays for the cost of care that may be needed in later life or if long term illness or disability hits. When citizens make a claim they have a choice: either they can take a lump sum or they can ask for “payment in kind”, which means the cost of the services they need will be covered by the state.

“The cash payment is of much lower value than if youd opted for the services in kind, but it very popular,” said Caroline Glendinning, professor of social policy at the University of York. “It used to support family care giving.”

The scheme is financially stable because, culturally, care is often provided informally by family members, and so the strain of paying for large amounts of care does not fall to the state. Opting for the single payment also means the carer has some claim to the money. The scheme pays into the pension of the carer, offers four weeks respite care and provides access to training.

“The German social insurance idea is a good one in terms of trying to ensure that the entire population actually has an income which is respectable and adequate enough to open up the possibility of social inclusion rather than just mere survival,” said Kohler.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, a visiting scheme for older people has been established to prevent isolation. Volunteers are recruited en masse. They provide older people with information about services, ask about their emotional wellbeing and establish if they are lonely. If the volunteers cannot solve a problem themselves they turn to professionals. The aim of the scheme is that every older person in the country is visited at least once a year, but the performance of local governments varies depending on their financial situation.

France

French authorities have developed an inter-generational leisure scheme which helps pensioners to spend their holidays with family, even if they are frail. Funds from the French state pension are diverted to fund the construction of large holiday complexes suitable for all the family, from small children to the very old – with most located in already popular holiday destinations along the southern and northern coastlines.

“It an excellent example of lived inter-generational solidarity: you can actually go on holidays as a family, including grandparents, if some basic healthcare and social care infrastructure is provided,” observed Andreas Hoff, a research fellow at the Oxford Institute of Ageing.

He added: “Isnt that much better than asking for respite care? Middle-aged caregivers get respite without the feelings of guilt for leaving behind their parents in institutional care.”

The holiday parks have easy access for disabled people and sheltered accommodation with specialist medical and care facilities. Holidaymakers do pay for their stay, but some families can apply for assistance.

Japan

Adachi, a heavily populated ward in the north of Tokyo, has launched a “zero isolation” project aimed at reaching out to its ageing community. Data is analysed on all people over the age of 70. Older people who talk with someone outside their household less than once a week, or has nobody to turn to for help are defined as isolated. For those who meet the criteria, visitors help to break the cycle of isolation and encourage participation in events such as karaoke, exercise groups and shared dinners. There are events aimed at bringing isolated people out of their homes and into the community at least twice a month.

“Adachi initiative around zero isolation was a specific response to the community despair that a deceased older man could lay undiscovered in his home for as long as 30 years,” said Andrew Stevens, chief researcher at the Japan Local Government Centre.

He added: “The scheme was aimed at using existing resources and structures more effectively to promote vigilance on the part of a busy population living in a Tokyo commuter suburb, towards their older neighbours.”

The scheme is already being rolled out to single parents.

Cyprus

Cyprus has established a parliament for older people made up of representatives from charities and groups. It meets once a year, together with the Cypriot president, the minister of health and the minister of labour and social insurances. Ministers are bound by law to implement some of their decisions. The parliament even delayed a recent banking vote, to protect the interests of savers.

Ireland has a similar scheme, the Irish senior citizens parliament, which is run by volunteers and has had huge success in rallying older people to put pressure on government.