Policy Provocations: Elderly population an “achievement”

Professor Malcolm Jackson: “The lifespan of people has increased dramatically over the last century”

Britain’s growing elderly population should be seen as a “real achievement” and not a problem, says University of Liverpool’s Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease Director, Professor Malcolm Jackson.

Speaking ahead of the University’s debating series, Policy Provocations, Professor Jackson said: “There’s a concern that it is being talked about as a problem, when the fact that we are living longer is actually a real achievement of mankind, and society. This debate is very much about bringing people from around the country to talk about how we should be thinking about it differently and shouldn’t be talking about it as a problem.”

Panel

The latest in the Policy Provocations series asks; does ageing mean more life or just more years? It features a panel made up of University of Manchester Emeritus Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Professor Raymond Tallis; Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing and Health Director, Professor Tom Kirkwood; Professor Diana Kuh, Director of the Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health; and Ageing and Sybo Dijkstra, Senior Director at Philips Research UK. The debate is chaired by the University’s Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Derrington.

Professor Jackson said: “Professor Tom Kirkwood is interested in the ways medicine can help us live longer, while Professor Diana Kuh has been studying how people age, and why some people age well and some are much frailer at an earlier age. Professor Raymond Tallis stresses the role of the NHS, and Sybo Dijkstra will talk about how technology can help older people maintain their independence.”

The event is being held at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall and comes a day after the UN’s International Day of Older Persons, which seeks to recognize the contributions of older persons and to examine issues that affect their lives.

Dramatic increase

Professor Jackson said: “The lifespan of people has increased dramatically over the last century. A child born today will have five hours, on average, longer life span than a child born yesterday and it’s all down to improvements in public health.”

For live tweets throughout the event follow @livuniheseltine. You can also join the debate using the hashtag #policyprov

Ageing: more life of just more years? led by the University’s Heseltine Institute of Public Policy and Practice, takes place in The Concert Room, St George’s Hall tonight from 6pm. The event is free, but tickets must be reserved. For more information visit: http://www.liv.ac.uk/events/policy-provocations/ageing.php