Flexible

The population is growing steadily older. This process is occurring at different rates in different parts of the world but is more advanced in the economically developed nations. Population ageing is not simply about more people living for longer but is both an outcome of wider social, economic and political processes while also having profound social, political and economic impacts. These changes in the population structure have prompted successive governments and policy makers to analyse the consequences of an ageing population and to consider the implications for public health and social policy. Despite population ageing representing the success of improved public health, medical care and living standards over the last century the perception of an ‘ageing crisis’ is prominent in public discourse. Media headlines such as ‘NHS cannot cope with ageing population warns top doctor’ and ‘Public Pensions: The big bill’ far outweigh media reports emphasising the positive aspects of more people living longer and reflect widespread concern over how public services will manage and pay for an increasingly elderly population.

In this unit we consider how and why the age structure has changed in recent decades; some of the challenges these trends pose to policy makers and examine how and why public health and social policy has developed in line with population ageing.

Study time: 2 hours (x2 1 hour classes to complete this unit). 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit you will:

·        Have gained knowledge and understanding about the social and economic impacts of population ageing.

·        Demonstrate an awareness of the public health and social policy implications of an ageing population.

Academic skills

In this unit we will focus on developing:

Reading skills – comprehension, academic vocabulary and understanding in context,

Writing skills – summarising complex information, evaluating and synthesising information from various different sources; developing academic writing and keeping the focus.

Verbal skills – presenting academic material, discussing and debating; points of view and critique.