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A new composite indicator: the Index of Wellbeing in Later Life (WILL)
In February Age UK published an Index of Wellbeing in Later Life. Anyone interested in composite indicators should have a look at it. The introduction to the summary report on the Index...
Robots and ageing: a design dilemma
In designing the next generation of products and services to enhance the experience of later life and allow people to live independently for longer, there are two diametrically opposed design appro...
Social Care and the Spring Budget
The announcement that the Spring budget will provide social care with an additional £2bn for the next three years, with £1bn available in 2017-8 has been met with an understandably mixe...
Longevity and music as meaning
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” -- Nietzsche To celebrate his 75th birthday, Maurizio Pollini is playing two concerts at London’s Royal Festiv...
Happiness in Germany and Denmark: Hygge vs Gemütlichkeit
The ‘Better life index’ is an instrument to compare countries based on eleven topics of well-being indicators like education, work-life balance or life satisfaction. Of particular note ...
Ageing in Russia
Over the past several months I have made research visits to Russia (three times), Germany and South Korea in connection with several projects, including an almost completed one on the changing circ...
Climate Change and Ageing in Spain
A critical issue facing Spain’s health system is their ageing population with 30% of their population projected to be aged 65 years or more by 2050. This is against a background of major econ...
The New Global Gag Rule
Numerous controversial executive orders, memoranda and proclamations signed by US President Trump since his inauguration have left many people aghast and distraught, and the rate at which they are ...
Who Wants to Be a Geriatrician? A Looming Shortage in Our Time of Need
If I had to compile a list of “frequently asked questions” when discussing my future medical career with others, “what type of doctor do you want to become?” nears the top o...
The world’s longest studied birth cohort turns 70 – here’s what they’ve told us
The world’s oldest continually running birth cohort study – the MRC National Survey of Health and Development – turns 70 this month. A birth cohort study is one where a represe...
TODAY, THE MIRROR OF TOMORROW
A few months ago I woke up to the news of Emma Morano’s birthday. She turned 117 years old on November 29 in Verbania, Italy, where she has lived for her entire life. She is now the world&rsq...
Is Age a Factor in Financial Exclusion?
My recent report, "When I'm 84". Locking the Door on the Older Old: the Challenge Facing Britain’s Banks, argues that the very oldest in our society are at risk of being shut ou...
Photovoice
“I can’t remember what I’ve seen today. I can’t really remember where I was and what was happening. It’s really hard to keep things together. Sometimes I’m losin...
Inequalities in death
"It does not matter how long you live, but how well you do it ." - Martin Luther King While this quote from Martin Luther King is a noble and emotive one, it does still beg the quest...
Dementia as a cause of death
A statistical bulletin released by ONS last week reported that in 2015 Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias were the leading cause of death in England and Wales. As the bulletin expl...