Table of Contents Introduction...................................................................................................................2 The UK’s ageing population is responsible for unsustainable costs in health and social care.....................................................................................................................2 Conclusion....................................................................................................................7 References...................................................................................................................8 1
Introduction PopulationageingimpliesachangeinthedemographicsectorwithintheUK population, which reflects the increasing number of older adults. This means that due to the low birth rate, only few young individuals are able to join the UK population. Loweringdeathlevels,especiallyamongstthoseabovetheageof65,are contributing to a growthof older individuals (Kingstonet al.2018). Increase in ageing population is mainly because of advanced medical treatments that aims to cure older people quickly, along with remedies to treat diseases. The following essay will give insightsonunderstandinghowtheageingpopulationofUKisresponsiblefor increasing unsustainable healthcare and social care costs. The essay will further argue whether the rising expenses of ageing is a public concern and if it is ethically right to fund the ageing population. Further, the following essay will also speak about the societal benefits of the ageing population and the advantages of giving and embracing a new life path. The UK’s ageing population is responsible for unsustainable costs in health and social care According to the UK health data, the number of people aged 60 and above is expandingatarateof1.9percentannually,thatis60percenthigherwhen compared with theglobal community.According to the report, the ageing generation will keep driving national health expenditure. Within 2027, thenational health care costs will rise to 19.4% of GDP, or $6 trillion (Ferguson and Belloni 2021). According to reports, around two-fifth of the total spending from national health funds are spend for people over 65 years of age. As per the Treasury analysis, the cost of healthcare treatments for an 85 years man is seven times more than the cost for a 30 years individual.Thisimpliesagedindividualcostaround$7000annually.Experts anticipated that by the end of2050, there will approximately four individuals aged 15 to 65 on the planet. These developments would exert a significant impact and rising healthcare and social costs upon the United Kingdom. Moreover, from the time period from 2014 to 2039, adults over 60 years willaccount for more than 70 percent ofthetotalUKdemographic,risingfrom14.9almost21.9millionindividuals (ageuk.org 2021). 2
Health expenditure in UK (Source:Office for Budget Responsibility 2021) From the above graph, it could be stated that with increasing age of UK people, the cost of health and social care expenditures also increases. However, there has been an increasing rise in the hospital and community health services.Rises both health and social care expenditures, and also retirement spending, might exacerbate rising costs withaging population. Nevertheless, the majority of elderly care is provided beyond the government-funded structure. Around 37.5 percent, rely on relatives and friendsforcarerequirements,while12.5%relyonprivatelyfinancedproviders (Office for Budget Responsibility 2021). AsopinedbyBaxteretal.(2018),budgetaryconstraints,severepersonnel difficulties, and highly complicated demographic requirements possess difficulties in obtaining greaterhealth and social care services.The overall net spending for elder social care including local council financeswas £15.5 billion in the year 2017-2018. Desire for bettercare services is rising due to a burgeoning elderly populace, but financingper elderly has fallen by 17.5 percentage.Thepublic financing is getting increased up by older individuals.The overall gross spending on senior social care acrossEnglandduring2017/18amounted£15.5billion.Geriatricsocialcare consumption and prices have been expected to rise by3.7 percent annualized pace, costing roughly £12.2 billion annually by2030-31. 3
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AccordingtoAiden(2018),theprimarycausesofageingpopulations includedeclining fertility andhigher mortality.The drop-inoverall death rates are increasing is more evident amongst elderly ages.Costs arise as a result of an ageingpopulation,sinceolder persons aremuchmorepronetohavechronic medicaldisorders with numerous comorbidities, that areexpensive.Indeed, the compressingmorbidity theoryproposes that advances in medicine and treatment would delay the beginning of serious disease, resulting morbidity 'compression' to smalldurationspriortodeath(WinettandOgletree2019).Thedevelopmentof morbiditytheory,proposesthat,althoughmortalitydeclinesbecauseofmedical progress, morbidity rises as people do not usually perish from severe diseases, ratherliveswithdeformities.Sincethisfrequencyofmulti-morbiditygrows withincreasing ageing, age remains a factor of risinghealth cost.Over the previous two decades, yearly NHS expenditure foreach person has increased by roughly £100. Moreover, previous researches states that the ageing population also possess detrimental impact on the UK economy. An ageing demographic plus reduced labor forceaffects economies in differentmethods (Watkinset al.2017). For instance, theGDP growth decreases, working-age individuals spend more to take care for theolder.With ageing populations, the fraction of employees decreases and the number of high-consuming seniors increases. Based on the above evidences, it could be argued that the rising healthcare cost of ageing population has become a public concern.Howdon and Rice (2018), stated that the increased population of elderly persons places additional strain upon the public healthcare sector and also affects thesocial and medical assistance. Serious illnesses, that adversely affect elderly people, lead to severe complications, worse living standards, and higher health-related care andexpenses. Owing to a drop in childbirth andan increase inlife expectancy,the ageing population of UKis rising. The rising proportion of people aged over65 yearsmay result in higher health-care expenses. Long-term healthcare requirements may offer the biggest strain to both individual assets and governmental services. Within United Kingdom, public funding for long-term care has been expected to rise by 20-21 percent. Tosupportthediscussion,authorsGuest,VowdenandVowden(2017),have claimed that with the increase in ageing population, the overall society is also ageing by increasing health care costs, and this is negatively affecting the healthcare 4
services.Health care expenditure throughout the United Kingdom is expected to climb with the rise ingeriatric population. Furthermore, as health care isprimarily supported by public revenue, the strain of paying care over the working populace, wouldincrease.Costs related tomedical services and products are expected to rise by2.5percentannually,higherthanthepreviousdecade'strend.Thishas accounted in the riseforhalf of predicted individual health expenditure. In addition to increasedhealthcareexpenditures,therehasbeenanupsurgefortreatment also.Following increased healthcare requirements, the medical sector would require to seek extra funds to increase the supply for healthcare. Furthermore, clinicians are also growing old along withthe generalpublic. In addition to this, it has been argued by many researchers that although ageing population is a burden to the society, causing healthcare and financial issues, still ethically, the older people should receive support and medical care for leading a healthy life.In today's ageing society, the conditions that impact individuals are inextricably connected withsociety's betterment.One of the numerous reasons of societal difficulties is age (Gilbertet al.2018).Employment creation, job and pension trends, family functioning, governments' and societies' capacity to offer enough facilities for older persons couldbe influenced by societal ageing.Conflict theorists argue that injustice and inequality constitute the root causes of societal problems. They regard social disparity as a bad and immoral component of societal structure. They believe that social change is ongoing, instantaneous, and unavoidable because the older individuals are replaced by the younger ones to follow the societal change. Someresearcherscounter-arguedthatdespitethefactsthatolderpeopleare burden,itisethicallyrequiredtosupporttheminobtainingbetterhealthcare services. To support the old people and to avoid inequality in the society, it is required to provide pension only to those people who have low earnings.This signifiesthatonlyindividualswhoearnedminimalsalariesthroughouttheir employment would be eligible for pension. This would lessen socialinequalities, and willlessenUKgovernment'spensionexpenditure.Migrantworkerswhoare knowledgeableandexperiencedmightberecruitedtosolvetheproblem ofunderemployment. Another approach identified by researchers for support old age people is thelife course approach. According toElder and Johnson (2018), a series of sociocultural activities and tasks,human enacts throughout their lifetime is known 5
as thelife course. The method explores the relation byconnecting people with theirpoliticalandsocioeconomicenvironment.Benefitsinvolvedwiththe implementationoflifecourseapproachfortheagedpopulationinclude- multidisciplinaryandincorporatesbiosocialcauses.Itmoreoverenablesthe integrationofvarioushealthsystems,likeprenataletiologyandolderlifestyle framework. However, to apply the frameworks for supporting the ageing society, it is requiredtoanalyzethedangerandlikelihoodofearlymortality.Nutrition, hypertension, overweight, and cigarette usage seem to be the strongest predictors causing early mortality. Other risks factors that could lead to early mortalities include cardiovascular diseases, strokes, lungs problem, nephrotic syndrome and others. Early mortality isconnected with 2 diabetes and lack of exercise. Apart from this, earlymortalityiscausedbysocioeconomicvariableslikelackofknowledge, unemployment, racial discrimination, and social isolation. Social factors could have an influence on the death of the individual, directly and indirectly. Zaidiet al.(2017),disagrees with the statement, that UK ageing population is liable for increasing health and social care costs and claimed that the ageing population provides benefit to the society. For instance, many aged individuals get involved in voluntary works. In socio-economic perspective, aging population would pass on their work knowledge to the younger workforce. Moreover, a balance of both the young and older members in the society would help in maintaining an equilibrium within the community. Numerous elderly individuals make an intangible influence on UK’s economy. According to data, around 2.3 million grandparents take care of their grandchildren, so that their parents can work. Another benefit of ageing population is that they that have a positive contribution on workforce also. As per studies, elder workers tend to remain more punctual than younger workforce. They could be retainedbyorganizationforlongertheyastheydonotchangeemployment frequently.Elders may offer a variety of comprehensive and intriguing learnings to everysocialcircletheyjoinduetotheirvastexperiencetheyhavecollected throughout their lives. However, it has been argued by many authorsPlescia and Dulin (2017), though individuals are responsible for making their health choices in terms of lifestyles, society plays an integral role in impacting the health care facilities of individuals. enabling accessibility to healthcare facilitiesis a crucial social obligation, however 6
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communities can improve care in a number of approaches, including cleanliness, environmentmanagement,nutritionandmedicationstability,andothers. Societalintervention is essential to detect illnesses, manage illnesses, participate in town development,and fund essential biological studies. Humans and their societies should work together to take accountability for their ownhealth. Conclusion The essay concludes that the rise in ageing population increases the cost of health and social care across the United Kingdom region. With the rise in ageing populace, need for carehas become demanding, imposing additional strain upon the social care network. It has been stated in the essay that the primary reason for the increased ageing population is the higher fatality and low mortality rate. Healthcare costs becomes more as the elder people are more prone to chronic diseases than young generations. In terms of social issue, aged group also possess a negative impact in the society as it creates job inequalities in the society.Since the employees diminishes in proportion to the number of customers, an ageing demographic places fiscal strain upon the overall economy and society. However, few researchers have also debated about the benefits ageing people provides to the society, but they actually create inequalities and disbalance the societal norms. 7
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