Welcome to Inter-ActiveAge
July 2008The NHS is a Boomer
Born along with the boomer generation, the NHS is now having to work even harder to accommodate and care for its fellow boomers as they slip into the elderly bracket.
When the NHS was born the life expectancy in Britain was 66 for men and 71 for women. Today, and in large measure due to the success of the NHS, that life expectancy is now 76.6 for men and 81 for women (ONS).
But, people living longer means more people needing the services of the NHS, thereby changing the way and focus the NHS delivers its services.
And the NHS has to do this with greater strains on its budgets. The more elderly the population the smaller the tax base gets; so either today's younger generations are prepared to pay taxes to support the elderly's health and care services, or new financial models are required to ensure quality of life for the boomers.
So how has the NHS kept pace with the changing needs and demands of its boomer siblings? And what should the future look like?
Recent publications and articles offer some perspectives.
The NHS - Beginning, Middle and End?: The Autobiography of Dr John Marks
Radcliffe Publishing Ltd (20 May 2008)
The NHS After 60: For Patients or Profits?/ John Lister
Middlesex University Press (30 April 2008)
At 60, Britain's health service needs reality check http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL02682879
Susan Banks was one of the first NHS patients http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7449916.stm
Sixty years of the National Health Service http://www.ohe.org/lib/liDownload/603/Sixty%20years
The shock of the old: The National Health Service has lasted long enough to look modern again http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670271
June 2008Inter-ActiveAge Forum Launch ActiveAge is currently engaged in research into the role for online networks in helping to improve the health and wellbeing of those suffering from Long Term Conditions. To help broaden the knowledge and understanding, InteractiveAge invites comments on a short introductory paper. Click on the Forum link to participate in the discussion. May 2008
Towards 2030: planning for our changing population
The New South Wales Government have taken an active step towards a strategy for an ageing population. This detailed plan may hold some key ideas for others currently grappling with ageing issues. Access the document at http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/towards2030.htm
April 2008grey matters
Remember to visit the 'grey matter' page for some slightly 'off-centre' views of the ageing phenomena
April 2008ActiveAge's Partner Meeting
ActiveAge Partners will meet in Newcastle on 20th May to discuss and develop the Health and Social Network theme. For a copy of the discussion paper please contact ileith@businesslab.co.uk
April 2008New Case Study
Microsoft Research Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital are developing a prototype wearable camera that could aid people with Alzheimer's disease. Read the SenseCam Case study here.
April 2008ActiveAge Publication
ActiveAge Strategic Partner, Cels, has recently published a research report "Independence Through Assistive Technologies".
The Work by Dr.Pamela Briggs, Dr.Lynn McInnes and Dr.Nicola Hopley of Northumbria University's PaCT Lab considers the everyday life difficulties of many older people and how these might be eased through the use of assistive devices and technologies.
To obtain a copy of the report, please contact:
Caroline.findlay@celsatlife.com
April 2008Welcome to Inter-ActiveAge
Welcome to Inter-ActiveAge, the news and discussion site for ActiveAge. Here you will find relevant information and stories from the ActiveAge programme as well as new ideas about ageing-related products and issues in general. We hope you will contribute to our discussions and offer information about your own areas of interest in the ageing arena. Our forums are currently under construction but these will soon be populated with lots of interesting conversations and debates about ageing-related issues. We hope you enjoy spending time on this site and continue to check back for regular updates.
"ActiveAge is BusinessLab's largest and most important collaborative research programme. We are very excited about the re-launch of Inter-ActiveAge and hope that this site will provide you with up-to-date information on ActiveAge as well as encouraging further discussions on ageing for everyone interested in the subject"
Gregor Rae, Chairman of BusinessLab
"CELS aim as a strategic partner within ActiveAge is to expand the connectivity between the strong North East cluster of public and private organisations and international companies. The region is home to a vibrant community of academic centres, led by the Institute of Ageing and Health at Newcastle University, combined with forward thinking service providers and committed representatives of the informed elderly. Working with ActiveAge CELS has already developed links to major technology providers into the region which we believe will accelerate economic growth and further position the North East as a centre of excellence in delivering solutions for active ageing".
Mike Nicholds, Director of Science and Technology,Cels
