1 in 3 over-65s in the UK want to be more socially active. 17 May 2012 The Technology Strategy Board has released a ‘Social Index’[1] of the UK, in terms of age and area, based on how socially active respondents of a poll report their lives to be.
The index follows recent research from the Campaign to End Loneliness that revealed how a lack of socialising can be detrimental to the health and quality of life of older adults.[2] The age index shows a decrease of interaction in later life, yet a common desire to continue to remain socially active with over a third (35 per cent) of people aged over 65 wanting more social interaction than they are able to have. Having the confidence to socialise increases with age, with only seven per cent of over-65s saying that lack of confidence prevents them from being socially active, compared with nearly a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds.
Local initiatives that connect older adults together or offer intergenerational activities are crucial and the application of technology often plays an important role in these. Minding the Digital Gap for Our Aging Population. The Internet has had an enormous impact on almost every aspect of society.
It has radically transformed the way we live, work, shop, communicate, and find information. Never before has information been so easily accessible to us, and yet, as much as the Internet enhances our lives, the "digital gap" between us and our aging population is widening. Studies show that most seniors do not process and interact with web content the same way as other segments of the population. As people age, they experience difficulties with vision, hearing, dexterity, and memory. Visual sensory systems as well as auditory, tactile and vestibular systems start to gradually decline.
No matter how much help hardware and software provide, an older user may not be able to effectively use a mouse to navigate through links or select text and images, much less effectively navigate a social network or virtual world. This is no longer science fiction. Independence Matters. Launched in May 2012, Independence Matters was a Design Challenge run with in partnership with Technology Strategy Board to develop inspiring services that promote independence in later life.
The problem As we grow older, we can experience changes that diminish our ability to exercise choice and control. We may experience changes in our physical and mental abilities, or life changes such as retirement and bereavement. In later life, we rely on services that help us to navigate these changes, stay independent and live our lives the way we want to. The Independence Matters Design Challenge was inspired by this opportunity for business and social innovation. The insight As we age, loneliness becomes a significant issue for many and raises the question of how to enable people to live well in their own homes while remaining connected to their community.
Our response The results The Design Challenge supported the development of seven innovative services for older people: Redalyc.uaemex.mx/redalyc/pdf/1331/133114991007.pdf. Independent Living Resource - Facts and Figures. This section includes facts and figures about Independent Living and older people: Older people are a large and growing segment of our population Many older people are disabled It's not all negative Older disabled people obtain support from a range of sources However, many older disabled people are not getting the support they need, in the way they want it There is a new way forward Older people are a large and growing segment of our population According to Age Concern England's Key facts and statistics 2008 there are in the UK: 61 million people in total 20.5 million people aged over 50 9.7 million people aged over 65 2.7 million people aged over 80 By 2032 nearly one in four people in the UK will be aged 65 and over.
Population growth between 2008 and 2028 will be fastest amongst the oldest older people: (Office for National Statistics, National population projections) Many older people are disabled The likelihood of being disabled and receiving care increases with age. Back to the top. Publications Guides Factsheets Age UK inc. Age Concern. Disability statistics and research - Office for Disability Issues. Market Reports.