CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STRATEGY
Understanding the ageing population issue
6.1 Participants appeared to be at an early stage in understanding the ageing population issue. There needs to be a shift in understanding before they will take action to better prepare for their own old age. Similarly, there needs to be a shift before they might accept the need for less popular government measures. In relation to the provision of services, for example, the perceived need is for more and better services, with little appreciation of the economic and demographic problems that might be faced in attempting to meet these needs.
Emphasising the benefits to all of society
6.2 There appeared to be a prevailing youth-centred orientation - even among older participants. For example, discussions about the contribution older people could make were usually couched in terms of what they could do for younger people - rather than what they might do for each other or for society in general. It may be some considerable time before this perspective changes. In the meantime, the Strategy should emphasise the benefits to all of society, not just older people, in addressing the ageing population issue.
Encouraging a continuing contribution
6.3 Participants' understanding of a 'contribution' was narrower than the relatively broad definition that will be used in the Strategy. This has implications for the language used in Strategy document if people are to understand 'contribution' in its broader sense.
6.4 Old age was conceptualised as a period free from work and family commitments. There was little sense that participants feel old age is about making a contribution in these areas. This suggests that initiatives to encourage and help older people make continuing contributions of this nature should emphasise the benefits to the older person (e.g. enjoyment and social contact) and should be voluntary and flexible, rather than focusing on 'contribution' as it may be currently understood.
Encouraging individual planning
6.5 The fact that participants knew what they wanted from their old age, (i.e. free time, good health, enough money and enough social contact) did not mean that they were planning for it. Participants were generally making short-term plans and, although some were living a healthy lifestyle and contributing to pensions, others would need much more advice and encouragement before they choose to start thinking about old age.
6.6 However, it is important that initiatives to encourage better planning strike a balance between warning people of the implications of not planning and avoiding 'scare tactics'. Rather than improving financial planning, awareness and concern about the 'pensions crisis' appears to have had the opposite effect on some participants - allowing them to think that "there's no point" because of the uncertainty around pensions or because "it's too depressing" or "scary". Similarly, knowledge that many older people's quality of life is severely comprised by their health does not necessarily lead participants to be healthier. Again, the lack of a guarantee that a healthy lifestyle now will mean health in old age, and the fact that it's too unpleasant to contemplate, prevents some from taking actions to improve their chances of health in old age.
6.7 In addition to educating without employing 'scare tactics', initiatives which emphasise the current benefits of taking action (e.g. peace of mind now from knowing that you have financial security, or feeling better now because of a healthier lifestyle) may have more impact. More positive images of old age (drawing on the inspirational attitudes and wide ranging activities of many older people) could also be used to help combat the notion that ageing is too "depressing" and "scary" to contemplate.