International Longevity Centre - UK

A new piece of research highlighted in the August edition of Ageing and Society considers why a growing number of older people are choosing park-home living. The research, a study of 40 park-home residents, by Mark Bevan of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York, notes that around 160,000 people live in park-homes and that the majority of these are older people.

Park-homes are essentially mobile homes occupied as people’s residences (rather than as holiday homes) (1) (2). Bevan points out that park-homes have a unique status in English property law. On the one hand they count as dwellings, but on the other they are treated as chattels. As a result, park-homes are excluded from building regulations that apply to permanent dwellings.

Bevan finds that most of his respondents report very positive experiences of park-home living but notes that there are some tensions between residents and conflicts with owners. Bevan argues that the park-home sector has long provided a low cost housing option for all ages but over the past five or ten years has grown into more of a lifestyle chose for older people.

Bevan highlights two main findings as to why people choose park homes. A first group of interviewees explain their decision in the context of affordability. There are only two specialist providers offering mortgages for park homes so most purchasers buy in cash after selling bricks and mortar. Other housing options were simply too expensive for this group and the park home lifestyle was perceived as a better alternative to renting.  Most of these individuals and families moved relatively short distances to the park home.

The second group chose park homes as a retirement lifestyle option. The “empty nest” alongside resources to enjoy a comfortable life led to these to make a positive choice. The feeling expressed was that this choice would allow sufficient money for holidays and allow the individual to follow leisure pursuits. This group travelled further (than the first) from their previous home to their new park home.

Whilst park-homes have increasingly become a lifestyle choice there may be some doubts over the short term growth in the sector. Five or ten years ago it was possible to buy park homes in seaside resorts for less than the average cost of a two bedroom house in the same area. This is often no longer the case and park-homes can now reach £300,000. And when you consider the site fees are added to the purchase price, we may see a fall in the number of people choosing park homes for mainly financial reasons. 

But it is interesting that more people are choosing park-homes as lifetime choices. Perhaps there is much that some of the more mainstream housing providers can learn from choices people are making. The desire for security and a sense of community are clearly strong motivators when individuals consider their retirement housing needs.

A common case for park-home living was the perception of the safe living environment. Some pointed to the sites as providing cohesive communities although Bevan points out that not all found the sense of community.

In terms of conflicts and tensions, Bevan highlights an issue where site ownership changes. The research finds that the death of a site owner can impact significantly on the site. And while Bevan’s sample is small, he does highlight concerns from some residents about conflicts with other residents or owners.

The Park Homes Residents Action Alliance highlights more serious concerns than Bevan identified. They claim to receive complaints from “hundreds of distraught, terrified and traumatised elderly and vulnerable park homeowners nationally relating, very often in tears, horrific accounts of the disgusting treatment being metered out daily against them” (4).

Given the anger expressed by residents groups such as the Park Home Residents Action Alliance, it seems that life is not all bliss in the park-home world. If the sector wants park-homes to be seen as a more mainstream choice for people in retirement (and it is undoubtedly a good choice for many), they need to address the concerns of these groups and ensure that the abuses reported do not happen. Equally there is a role for Department for Communities and Local Government. And perhaps a need for more regulation. 

But park-homes are an area where there has been limited research. Much more is needed to understand the aspirations and reality for people living in them.

David Sinclair

References
1)    Retirement lifestyles in a niche housing market: park- home living in England. Bevan, M Ageing & Society 30, 2010 965-985 Cambridge University Press
2)    Whilst park homes are mobile in name, they do not tend to move once they have been sited.
3)    http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/buyingselling/parkmobile/
4)    http://www.phraa.co.uk/latest/spring-2010-newsletter-page-1.html

Tucked neatly away in the top hand corner of the Sunday Observer magazine was the UK’s ‘life satisfaction scale’. According to this bar chart and indeed several other studies, wellbeing across the lifespan is ‘U-Shaped’. Happiness levels are moderate to high in our late teens and early twenties, plummet in our mid 40’s and then climb magnificently to the happiest age of all, 74[1]. So, while this is clearly bad news for thirty-somethings like myself, with two decades of relatively low life satisfaction to  ‘look forward to,’ this is surely good news for our burgeoning ageing population.

However, such research findings do not marry with the images presented before us in the modern media. The situational irony of the placement of the aforementioned bar chart in the Observer magazine cannot be ignored.  The happiness figures nestle next to a full page advert for premium rum, which shows the vitality and glamour of Melissa Ford, a youthful rum technician. The projected happiness of youth is juxtaposed by the sober representations of older people throughout the magazine.  On page 34 snapshots of a mature looking lady are shown before and after her ablutions with a new wrinkle cream, and on page 46 we find an advert for  ‘world famous cords’ being sported by an older man.

So if, as Roland Barthes suggests in Mythologies, we live in a ‘society of signs’ of the signifier and signified, then it must follow that all older people are not only miserable and/or vulnerable/isolated/frail, but around half of them spend most of their time worrying where their next pair of cords will come from.  Conversely, the young are portrayed as hedonistic, healthy and, of course, happy. Clearly such images distort the complex reality of identity construction, as we know older people are no more a homogenous group than the younger generation. Such misrepresentations always signify more and are embedded in a system of representation which ascribes false meaning to them.

Perhaps the above is a rather long-winded way to labour a point home, but clearly our representations of old and young and assumed notions of their levels of happiness have taken a wrong turn somewhere along the road. Thus contrary to conventional wisdom, as we age, we can in fact look forward to increasing levels of happiness. Contributors to the dubiously entitled ‘Journal of Happiness’ concur with this theory and point to the paradoxical inversion of societal norms surrounding our perceptions of ageing. As the author of a report on happiness, Heather Lacey notes: “Not only do younger people believe that older people are less happy, but older people they and others must have been happier ‘back then’. Neither belief is accurate”[2].

Indeed, while younger people are portrayed in popular discourse as revelling in their effervescent sun-streamed lives, as a generation they are arguably more transfixed with the pursuit of happiness than perhaps any other previously.  When they are not rollerblading down Sunset Boulevard or drinking premium rum, they are in fact locked away, busily consuming and digesting a plethora of books in the pursuit of what has spawned a new discipline termed the ‘Science of Happiness’. In the last couple of years, we have seen books on the ‘The Secrets of Happiness’, ‘The Happiness Hypothesis’ and ‘Stumbling on Happiness’ to name just a few. Now it is beyond the confines of this blog to discuss the  science of happiness much further, suffice to say though money does not buy you happiness and I am pretty sure books on the subject won’t either…..

What is clear though is until we move away from such descriptive misrepresentation of young and old, our ability as individuals and society to respond appropriately, effectively and sensitively to the needs of these two generations will fall beyond our grasp.  Such stereotypical images of young and old are not only factually inaccurate, but serve to embed and naturalise false representations and erroneous beliefs.  Furthermore they help to legitimate and sustain unequal power relations in our society, fostering discrimination, inequality and prejudice. Promoting intergenerational cooperation and communication will help to challenge such stereotypes and build more cooperative, inclusive and sustainable communities. The potential benefits of intergenerational practice are slowly being recognised, but arguably more pioneering projects are required, if we are to move beyond dehumanising, inaccurate  and potentially stigmatising portrayals of both young and old.

Sally Marie Bamford

[1] Blanchflower, D, and Oswald, A (2007) ‘Is wellbeing U-Shaped over the life cycle?’ National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper.

[2] http://www.webmd.com/news/20060614/aging-bonus-increased-happiness

This week Marks and Spencer have announced the launch of “plus size” school uniforms for overweight or obese primary school children [1]. The retailer says it has taken this step to meet the demands of some parents. The plus size uniforms cater for ages three to six, and will be sold on-line on a trial basis [2]. On one level this is a little shocking, but one can understand the retailer wanting to cater for children who have had difficulties buying appropriately sized school clothes. 

Most of us are aware that the last two decades have seen an increase in overweight and obese children. The National Obesity Forum [3] reports that 27% of children starting primary school are overweight or obese and MEND [4], a social enterprise supporting families to live healthy lifestyles, reports that one in three children is overweight. 

If weight problems are not tackled, an overweight child can become obese later on in life and be at greater risk of a number of serious health problems including type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, very overweight or obese children can find it difficult to participate in activities that other children do such as sports or other outdoor activities, which may be psychologically upsetting for some. 

As well as obesity, life expectancy is rising in the UK and is driving government policy on increasing the state pension age. This is not unreasonable; if we will all live longer and claim our pensions for longer, we need to work longer before doing so, if pensions are to remain financially sustainable. 

However, life expectancy and healthy life years are not the same thing (as I mentioned in a previous blog post, please see: http://blog.ilcuk.org.uk/2010/06/24/working-into-your-70s-as-long-as-you%e2%80%99re-healthy-enough/). Current health data suggest many people will not be healthy enough to work until the extended state pension age, and that those forced to retire early for health reasons are usually those who can least afford to do so. The chronic diseases that are associated with obesity are not only costly to the NHS; they are also more likely to lead to early retirement due to ill-health. This situation will surely get worse if the number of overweight and obese children continues to increase. It seems unlikely that an overweight five year old will be in good enough health to work until their 70s (as may be necessary by the time today’s five year olds get to retire). 

A strong argument emerges for investment in healthy lifestyles over the life course in order to tackle health inequalities, lessen strain on NHS resources, and to avoid serious challenges to future retirement income. 

Rebecca Taylor 

[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10755099 

[2] http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/fashion/childrenswear/marks-and-spencer-launches-plus-size-school-uniforms/5015552.article 

[3] National Obesity Forum http://www.nationalobesityforum.org.uk/  [4] MEND – Mind, exercise, nutrition, do it! http://www.mendcentral.org/       

Martha Lane-Fox this week published the Race Online 2012 Manifesto for a Networked Nation(1). It’s a report with a large number of recommendations to inspire, encourage and support individuals to go online. 

Martha makes a compelling case as to why we should all be online: The internet benefits us as consumers; helps us gain employment opportunities; gives us opportunities to learn; and can increase government efficiency.

The report attracted some good media coverage so I don’t intend to summarise the report. But I do want to focus on one recommendation in particular. As part of the Manifesto there is a call for Government to “expect people of working age to use some key online services”. Whilst the recommendation is focussed on people of working age it is an issue I have often debated in relation to older people.

A degree of compulsion is not a new thing. Some Government departments have already moved activities exclusively online and there is a degree of inevitability (not just due to budget pressures) that this trend will continue. The DTI (now BIS) were criticised a few years ago for moving employment rights information exclusively online, for example. And the Governments recent call for public sector workers to identify savings (Spending Challenge) appears to be an exclusively online consultation (2). In the private sector there are a large number of services exclusively online.

But the recommendation by Race Online 2012 is in my view, not one which should be ignored for the older population. Over the last 10 years we have seen fantastic services which aim to inspire, encourage and support individuals to go online. But it is clear that these services barely scrape the surface of the problem. Progress towards digital inclusion for older people has been painfully slow.

Perhaps it is time to ask very difficult questions if we are to tackle digital exclusion. If we want older people to get online yes we have to inspire, encourage and support. But we may also need to use the stick as well as the carrot. Perhaps Government should expect older people to, for example, apply for their bus pass online. The bus pass has fantastic value (in London it is worth thousands of pounds a year) and perhaps this would nudge people towards the new technology.

With around six in ten over 65s having never used the internet, these are not small problems. And don’t be convinced that this problem will go away in the short run (many of today’s seventy year old non-users will still be with us in twenty years time). I understand that Race Online 2012 are working on a follow up paper specifically looking at older people. It is important that the paper is bold and brave.

David Sinclair
 

(1)  http://raceonline2012.org/
(2)  http://spendingchallenge.hm-treasury.gov.uk/

We use the term “healthy ageing” quite often, but what does it mean and does that meaning have a cultural lens? The EU funded project “HealthyAgeing” developed the following broad definition:
“Healthy ageing is the process of optimising equal opportunities for health in order to enable older people to take an active part in society and to enjoy an independent and good quality of life.”

It would seem that this definition would be understood by people from different cultures, but would they have a different idea of what is taking an active part in society or what is having a good quality of life? A session on “International and cross-cultural concepts of healthy ageing” at the British Society of Gerontology annual conference last week in London [1] offers some insights.

Dr Harriet Radermacher from Monash University in Australia presented research undertaken in China and Malaysia. In China, “healthy ageing” had to be translated as “happy ageing” and was seen as meaning good health, good food, being physically active, being at peace with yourself and others, and having enough money for your needs (not desires). Older Chinese people stressed the importance of looking after themselves and not becoming a burden on their families or society.

As someone who has lived in Japan, I can report anecdotally that the Japanese view of healthy ageing seems to be similar to the Chinese one; keeping healthy and active and trying not to be a burden on the family or the state. In addition, Japanese local authorities support healthy ageing by routinely providing a wide range of leisure services for older people.

In Malaysia, Harriet and her colleagues undertook similar research with ethnic Malays, all of whom are Muslims, This research revealed that healthy ageing was seen primarily through a spiritual and emotional perspective, with financial or other practical matters taking second place. In particular, many older Malays saw healthy old age as an opportunity to further develop themselves in spiritually in line with their Muslim faith, in particular by giving back to the community through good works.

Dr Maria Zubair of Reading University presented research undertaken amongst older people in Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in the UK looking at age and health. This research showed that perception of age was heavily influenced by health status; individuals in good health in their 70s did not consider themselves old, whilst some in their early 50s with health problems did. Ageing was seen by those with health problems as negative, whereas others saw positive benefits including greater respect from the community and freedom from domestic responsibilities. There was also an increasing focus on religion and spirituality, although this was sometimes linked to lack of other opportunities (perceived or actual).

The presentations showed that that both religion and culture can affect perception of healthy ageing in different ways. In China and Malaysia ageing was generally seen in a positive light and healthy ageing was seen as an important aim, although for different reasons. There was also a great emphasis on harmony and being at peace with oneself and society in both the East Asian studies, which was not widely seen in the UK study, but would I believe be found if a similar study was undertaken in Japan. This perhaps reflects the desire of East Asian societies for harmony.

Despite many older Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in the UK sharing an Islamic faith with older Malays, they did not see healthy older age primarily as an opportunity for developing their spirituality, although some of the UK research subjects did seek to do that.

Rebecca Taylor
  [1] British Society of Gerontology annual conference 2010 http://www.bsg2010brunel.org.uk/
  

You can hardly open a newspaper without being confronted by the issue of insufficient retirement savings and the effects that increased longevity has on this issue.  Whether it is the Daily Mail “A Generation in Denial”, City AM “Golden Years of Retirement Turn Sour“ or - the somewhat more subdued - Financial Times “Insurer Warns on Pensions Savings” – everyone agrees that the future is looking less than bright for those hoping to retire.   However, while most people agree that there is a problem, there is significantly less agreement as to what the solution might be.

Indeed, each organisation has its own favourite solution as well as a list of those it vehemently opposes and objects to.   So, how can we solve this issue?  Well, I think we need to remove ‘knee-jerk’ reactions from the equation and look at how each of these possible solutions could work together and then come up with some clear guidelines for consumers.   This sounds terribly simple but unfortunately this is not what is currently happening.

A case in point is the current benefits clarification campaign that SHIP is running.  We believe that many consumers do not consider using equity release to improve their finances in retirement due to their own (and advisers) uncertainty as to how it might or might not affect their benefits.    Therefore, we are asking advisers for their views on this issue, in the hopethat we can provide solid evidence which encourages the Department of Work and Pensions to issue clear definitive guidelines.

As most organisations in the ‘retirement space’ agree that the over 55’s have significant amounts of equity in their homes, it seems ludicrous that this issue has not been tackled before.   However, the interaction between benefits and equity release is not the only grey area in the ‘retirement space’ so rather than this type of situation being an exception, it is often the rule.

So, to really solve the retirement funding problem, we need to look at how these various solutions can interact and clear any shades of grey.   But who is we?  This might seem a strange question but the responsibility for assisting consumers with their retirement planning needs falls squarely between the Government, third-sector and business – a point which is often over looked.    

The Government needs to provide the best-value solutions for all its citizens, the third-sector is looking to assist those who  often need help the most and businesses are looking to provide profitable but viable options for customers.   Therefore, while each has a different objective, they have shared goals and ultimately clarification of certain aspects of retirement planning would benefit each party.

Thus, to combat the problem of insufficient retirement savings against increased longevity, we need to work together to weigh up the merits of each funding solution, assess how they can work together and then issue clear guidelines.   This is happening to a certain extent but further engagement is essential and we all need to accept the limitations and objectives of each party and begin work on solutions.

So to paraphrase Elvis with “a little less conversation and a little more clarification” perhaps the future of retirement would not seem so bleak.

Andrea Rozario – Director General of Ship

At last week’s British Society of Gerontology conference, Liesbeth De Donder of Vrije Universiteit Brussels presented new Belgian research on the relationship of the build environment to feelings of insecurity. 

The research presented the results of a survey of over 26,000 people and sought to look at a broader picture of fear in the community than the traditionally used “fear of crime”. De Donder argued that concept of fear of crime was strongly related to crime and victimisation, yet the fear older people experience in communities goes way beyond a fear of crime. 

Her research in Belgium seeks to measure the “general feeling of malaise” in a community and sets out some of the reasons for these problems. 

She argued that a feeling of “unsafety “was often played out at an individual, social environment and at a physical level and explained the “broken windows theory”. Where there are more signs of disorder in a community, people perceive higher levels of insecurity and suffer from a resultant downward spiral in confidence. 

De Donder’s research looks at the role of age friendly communities and the impact of the built environment in terms of wellbeing. In short, her study explored whether an age friendly neigbourhood was as safer one. 

Lispeth found that there was indeed a major link between a poor environment and feelings of safety amongst older people. Dirty streets, the poor condition of pavements and street traffic were found to be major factors in relation to fear. Her research found that the physical environment contributes significantly to safety and that the neigbourhoods and their design actually had a more significant impact than crime in terms of the fear experienced by older people. Neigbourhoods adapted to the needs of an ageing society in terms of accessibility and services, are therefore likely to be neigbourhoods which feature much lower levels of fear and insecurity within the older population. 

This research does have, policy, research and practice implications. It shows that to tackle fear amongst the older population, it is not as simple as tackling crime alone. It also highlights the need for more research into how small (and what) changes to the environment can impact on feelings of security. 

David Sinclair        

Rebekah Luff of the University of Surrey presented new research on somnia at last week’s British Society of Gerontology conference.

She presented striking findings of a postal survey distributed by GPs on the sleeping patterns of older people. The research showed that around half of older respondents were clinically poor sleepers(1).

Whilst the research found that the proportion of those who sleep very badly increases with age, they also found that once other variables were included in the model there were no age affects. In other words, a poorer sleep experience is not a factor of age alone, even if we are more likely to experience poor sleep as we age.

The research finds that the most significant factor influencing insomnia is that of health. Those living in poor health were much more likely to be a poor sleeper. Individuals with four or more health problems were found to be three times more likely to experience sleep problems. Participants with Cancer were found to be three times more likely to report a high PSQI score (2). Those living with Musculoskeletal problems (mainly arthritis) were two times more likely to be living with poor sleep. And people living with high blood pressure and diabetes were also more likely to report poorer sleep.

The research also found other factors influencing somnia. Gender was also a significant factor with women reporting poorer sleep then men, even when controlling for other factors.
An interesting discussion point raised relates to the impact of poor sleep on the broader family. Poor sleep tends to impact on the carers as well as the individual, a fact most carers will identify with.

A quick Google search reveals many websites highlighting an alleged link between age and sleep. And the popular assumption is often that there is a strong link between age and insomnia.  This is only true to the extent that as we get older we are more likely to report a bad sleep experience. But this research confirms that it is not age but health which impacts on our sleep. Because we are more likely to suffer from poor health later in life, sleep is also more likely to be interrupted.

Rebekah Luff was only presenting one part of a much broader programme of work on somnia and age (3). The full research will be presented at a conference to be held in Westminster on 28^th October (4). This conference will provide an opportunity to debate the policy and practice implications for the research as a whole.

David Sinclair

(1)  Interestingly, however, a proportion of those with otherwise clinically poor sleep, self report that their sleep is good.
(2)  Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used measure of sleep quality. A high score represents a poorer sleep experience.
(3)  More information is available at www.somnia.surrey.ac.uk
(4)  More details of the conference are available at: http://www.somnia.surrey.ac.uk/conferences.html
 

Paul Nash and Vanessa Burholt of the Centre for Innovative Ageing at Swansea University presented new research on extra care housing at this week’s British Society of Gerontology conference. Based on their study of residents in extra care housing, residential care facilities, and people receiving community care, they presented findings on incidences of frailty in extra care schemes, and the impact of extra care on the social resources of widowhood. 

First, Paul Nash’s presentation on frailty. He demonstrated that, generally speaking, extra care schemes are home to more cognitively and physically fit older people. This led to the argument that extra care tends to be most appropriate for those with moderate care needs. Of course, it would be unfair to conclude that extra care providers claim to cater adequately for people with higher care needs. Furthermore, what remains unknown is whether extra care prevents or delays the onset of frailty. 

Second, Vanessa Burholt’s presentation on widowhood. Using quantitative techniques, Burholt found that residents of extra care housing have significantly greater social resources than other forms of care settings. Widows, in particular, are better off in extra care housing – extra care has a ‘mediating effect’ on the impact of widowhood on social resources. 

However, a qualitative inquiry indicated that while extra care helps to reduce isolation, it does not necessarily reduce loneliness. Relationships formed in extra care housing are frequent, but not necessarily intimate – there is a difference between friendship and friendliness. Again, it would not be fair to suggest that extra care schemes claim to definitively combat loneliness. Yet Burholt is surely right to argue that all care settings should enable people to maintain existing relationships as well as develop new ones. 

Craig Berry    

The British Society of Gerontology conference, held this week at Brunel University, featured several papers on transport needs – particularly the role of the car in older people’s well-being. 

Graham Parkhurst and Ian Shergold of the Centre for Transport and Society at the University of West England considered the existence and function of ‘mobility capital’. Their premise was that mobility is required to translate social resources into actual connectivity with neighbourhoods and communities. 

Their research studied six rural areas in South Wales and South-West England, with population density ranging from remote to near-urban. They found that 83% are as involved in their local community as they would like to be – although this dropped to 72% for those without car access. 

Perhaps Parkhurst and Shergold’s most important finding is that while most people agreed that transport is not as a barrier to community involvement, only a third of people without access to a car concurred. 

Carlessness is rare, and it does seem that mobility capital is high among most older people, even in rural areas. But clearly there are people for whom a lack of mobility can lead to social exclusion – and the chief cause is often lack of access to a car. 

Charles Musselwhite, also of the Centre for Transport and Society, turned attention to car design. Musselwhite surveyed the main design barriers to driving for older people. He listed external distractions, maintaining speed, and glare from oncoming headlights. 

Yet his research discovered that older people are sceptical of the most technologically sophisticated design solutions. Whereas younger people are comfortable with allowing technology to replace certain physical and cognitive functions, older people tend to want to retain a sense of control. 

The moral of the story is perhaps the importance of inclusive design in the development of products and services addressing population ageing. Inclusive design was a major theme of a paper by Hua Dong of Brunel University, based on research undertaken with Christopher Nicola of Camden Council. The research focused, however, on cycling rather than driving among older people. 

Dong argued that the main barriers to cycling for older people are a lack of confidence, an inability to retain balance, and security concerns. Dong and Nicola’s study used ethnographic techniques to shape the development of design solutions. While most solutions focused on making cycling less physically arduous, among the most innovative was one that instead focused on the main cause of cycling accidents on UK roads – heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). ‘Cycle sense’ would alert HGV drivers by tactile means (things like a vibrating seat) to the proximity of cyclists. Not only would this minimise one of the main concerns of older cyclists, it would also produce safer HGV drivers. 

Craig Berry