Activities

1 Priorities 2008/9

Priority areas of work have concentrated on include Wealth; Pensions; Inheritance and Asset Accumulation; Long Term Care Funding; Older Carers; Housing, Planning for Lifetime Neighbourhoods and the Built Environment; Voice of Older People in Society; Burden of Illness of Malnutrition in Europe; Effectiveness of Public Health interventions into Obesity; Food Preferences in Care Homes; Ageing and Gay; Intergenerational Issues; Population Projections for Public Policy and Pension Reform.

2 ILC-UK Research & Policy Reports 2008/9

1. The Age of Inheritance
This research explores changing patterns of inheritance transfers in the UK. It looks at how receipt of inheritance varies by age and socioeconomic group, and analyses the expectations of older cohorts for leaving an inheritance in the future. The research attracted wide press coverage including the Daily Mail, BBC News Online, The Independent and coverage in the Guardian on May 14th, 2008:

Key findings of the research include:
- Around 2.5% of the population receive an inheritance each year, and the average amount of inheritance received has doubled in less than a decade.
- Older age groups are both more likely to receive an inheritance and for it to be of higher value.
- Higher socioeconomic groups are more likely to receive an inheritance and there is some indication that the amount they receive is also larger.
- Among older groups, wealthier individuals also report a higher expectation of receiving an inheritance in the future.

2. Effectiveness of Public Health Interventions into Obesity
Three publications have stemmed from this work. The first, ‘Obesity in the UK: A Review and Comparative Analysis of Policies within the Devolved Regions’ was published on the ILC website on February 13 2008. This comparative study reviews policy on obesity among the devolved regions of the UK. In December 2008 it was published in the prestigious academic journal “Health Policy” and it received positive responses from public health practitioners in Wales and Northern Ireland among others. A second report for this project ‘Obesity and Public Health Policy: Lessons from Tobacco Control’ was published on April 15, 2008 on the ILC website.  This report reviews the strategies that have been effective against tobacco use and explores the scope for applying them to combat obesity. A third report, ‘A Life Course Approach to Tackling Obesity’ was published on the ILC website on June 27 2008. This report deploys a life course approach to review factors influencing behaviour and choices relating to balanced diets and physical activity.

3. Voice
This briefing paper published by Help the Aged analyses the ‘voice’ of older people in society. As individuals become more dependent on public services, their ability to exercise ‘voice’ may become more limited. More generally, ageing is a complex and variable process that affects every individual differently. However, whether ageing is conceived in terms of physical, cognitive or psychological changes it becomes clear that the ageing process will have adverse effects on the voice of individual older people. Whether it is struggling to attend a political group or being more likely to ‘make the best of things’ and not push for change, the accumulating effects of ageing are incompatible with voice. Given that both the ageing process and old age as a life stage impose increasing constraints on voice, this suggests the need for an active response by policy-makers, in order to ensure that older people are able to make their voices heard.

4. Food Preferences in Care Homes
The qualitative and quantitative research analysing food preferences among care home managers and residents has been completed and we are currently working on a manuscript to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.

5. Ageing and Gay
This set of policy briefs exploring housing, health and social care issues for the older gay, lesbian and bisexual population was published in November 2008. ‘Older Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People in the UK’ provides background and introduction on why the ageing experience for LBG people may be different from that of their heterosexual counterparts and what services used by older LGB people may be. ‘Housing Issues Affecting Older Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People in the UK’ explores the issue of housing for older LGB people. It is critical to raise awareness among housing providers and to encourage them to be more openly gay friendly. ‘Social Care Issues Affecting Older Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People in the UK’ addresses the social care support needed for older LBG people. For older LBG people there may be anxiety about potentially letting into their home individuals who may be homophobic to care for them. Direct payments have been seen to be a potential solution but caution must be taken as older LBGT may not have the same capacity and confidence to be ‘employers.’

6. Lifetime Neighbourhoods Work and Building Our Future Reprint
This is a collection of expert essays exploring how the 'lifetime neighbourhoods agenda' for housing and the built environment can respond to the economic downturn. The lifetime neighbourhoods agenda has emerged in recent years through growing recognition of the interlocking roles of the built environment, infrastructure, housing, services and space in determining quality of life. Lifetime neighbourhoods are those that “offer the best possible chance of health, wellbeing, and social, economic and civic engagement regardless of age”. Relevant publications from ILC-UK include:  ‘Building our Futures,’ ‘Sustainable planning for housing in an ageing population,’ ‘Towards Lifetime Neighbourhoods - designing sustainable communities for all,’ and ‘Weathering the storm – the impact of the 2008/9 economic downturn on the Lifetime Neighbourhoods agenda.’

7. European Nutrition for Health Alliance (ENHA) - Burden of Illness Project
The ILC-UK is the principal investigator for the Burden of Illness of Malnutrition in Europe study on behalf of the European Nutrition for Health Alliance. The three study ‘pillars’ (community, care home and hospital) the community study has begun and the care home and hospital study are in the final stages of methodological development and data analysis is expected to begin shortly and run through 2009. Work has also continued through 2008-09 to support the ENHA through carrying out their secretariat functions at the ILC-UK. 
In addition to working on ENHA projects, the principal investigator also works on the development of other health projects for the ILC-UK especially around nutrition and hydration and sits on the advisory panel of the UCL crucible project which aims to bring together researchers from different disciplines to develop funding ideas for work. 

3 ILC-UK Events and Conferences 2008/9

1. ‘Family Wealth Transfers in an Ageing Society’: Institute of Actuaries and ILC-UK debate, 7 May 2008
James Lloyd presented ‘The Age of Inheritance’ carried out by NATCEN and sponsored by Norwich Union and ‘Navigating the Age of Inheritance.’ This report addresses inheritance tax, the property market, how to pay for an ageing population, and how family wealth transfers will cause Government dilemmas. It asks the fundamental question: why are individuals leaving so much wealth as inheritance?

2. Living & Caring? An Investigation of the Experience of Older Carers 2 January 2009
On January 2nd, 2009 a research brief for local authorities engaged in developing, planning and delivering services to support older carers. The Living and Caring research, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, was launched in September2008.

3. ILC Global Alliance Meeting in the Dominican Republic 14-16 October 2008
Sally Greengross and Noreen Siba attended this annual meeting and symposium at which Sally Greengross presented on ‘Trends in Employment in the light of Demographic Change.’

4. ‘The state of Intergenerational Relations Today’ 9 October 2008
This ILC-UK debate and publication, sponsored by BT and Age Concern England, explored whether intergenerational relations today are ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than in previous eras, if globalisation will create an ‘intergenerational gulf’ and how public policy can improve relations between generations.

5. ‘Choosing Population Projections for Public Policy’ 29 October 2008
Sponsored by Swiss Re, this event addressed how population projections should be chosen and used in the formation of public policy. This includes whether the government should establish a ‘standing commission on mortality’ to make sense of scientific disagreements or uncertainties, or whether academic and professional communities should tackle population projections through open scientific debate. A report is due soon.

6. A National Care Fund for Long-term Care
Funding Long-Term Care: the Building Blocks of Reform was published on February 26th. Thereafter, James had meetings with stakeholders including the Social Care Strategy Review team at the Department of Health, Age Concern, Help the Aged and CCC. James also ran a set of working groups to explore the National Care Fund model in more detail. The ILC-UK paper was referenced four times in the HM Government consultation document that was published on May 12th called The Care for Change: Why England Needs a New Care and Support System.Subsequently, two newspaper columnists wrote about the National Care Fund model in both The Guardian and The Times.A supplementary paper on the model of a National Care Fund has been written and submitted to the Nufffield Foundation.

7. ‘Housing, Health and Social Care Issues Affecting Older Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People’ 18 November 2008
This event brought together a number of stakeholders to discuss and explore how providers can strive to meet the housing, health and social care needs of older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people. The debate explored how experience with ageing for LGB people differs from that of their heterosexual peers, the distinct needs of older LGB people and how they can be met and how service providers can ensure older LGB people can access services without fear of discrimination.

8. ‘Pension Reform and Personal Accounts after the Credit Crunch’ 3 February 2009
This ILC-UK/Institute of Actuaries Joint Debate addressed the UK pension reforms which are centered on Personal Accounts and seek to significantly change the savings habits of UK workers. As the UK faces a recession and slower economic growth, there is a clear need to reflect how pension reform will navigate this changed environment. Thus, the debate explored how last year’s dramatic evens will impact UK pension reform, how will young workers facing job insecurity and falling house prices react to Personal Accounts and will recent turbulence actually work in favour of Personal Accounts?

9. Weathering the downturn ‘Lifetime Neighbourhoods in the Credit Crunch’ 1 April 2009
This public discussion addressed the role of planning and community development to promote health and wellbeing in later life. It explored how the credit crunch will affect regeneration and housing development activity, whether it practical to demand high quality, inclusive and sustainable design in a falling market and if the state can close the gap in lost revenue for regeneration or if the bill is too high. This debate will represent a key milestone in shaping the direction of the Lifetime Neighbourhoods agenda for 2009/10 – namely, can the agenda survive in a meaningful sense, and what compromises must be reached? A result was a joint letter sent to the Minister calling for more action and prioritisation of these issues.

4 Priority Areas of work for 2009/10

1. The Economic, Health and Social Benefits of Care-Coordination for Older People 28 April 2009
A joint ILC-UK/Institute of Actuaries event discussed  the dissemination of two publications based on 3-year's of work funded by DH as part of their POPP programme based on the methodology which has been subjected to peer review and has just been published in Health Care Management Science. 

2. Public Spending and the Effect of Changes in Life Expectancy 16 June 2009
 This was the subject of another ILC-UK and Actuarial Profession Joint Seminar to explore what alternative methods of estimating life expectancy are available and what would be the impact of variations in life expectancy projections on public spending projections for long-term care, state and public sector pensions?

3. Roundtable on ‘Recent Progress & Innovation in Dementia Diagnosis, Treatment & Care’ 3rd June 2009
Baroness Greengross hosted and chaired a round table discussion at the House of Lords followed by a dinner on the on ‘Recent Progress & Innovation in Dementia Diagnosis, Treatment & Care’. 50 key specialists from the UK and from some other European countries were invited and the results of our discussion will be given in areport which will provide useful evidence to submit to the Summit on Dementia Research to be convened by the Government and the MRC on July 21 2009 and which should also help in influencing future policy and practice in government and in parliament.

4. Mental Health, Wellbeing and Ageing
An evidence report is in progress to draw together the latest policy developments, initiatives and legislation on mental health, specifically dementia at the European Union and member state level. Four reports in the Mental Health, Wellbeing and Ageing series will include: a literature review and a policy brief on promoting mental activity across the lifecourse particularly with regard to preventable approaches to dementia and a literature review and policy brief on improving mental health among older marginalised groups, with a specific focus on dementia.

5. 2009/10 Topics under discussion for policy papers, related events and research projects:

• Time to Annuitise and Financial Capability
• How can older people maintain a balance of personal choice, community spirit  and personal  safety / security?
• Responsibilities and opportunities for preventive medicine in health and social care for older people
• Personalisation and dementia: the challenges and opportunities
• Development and management of a Lifetime Neighbourhood Website
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Intergenerational Programme
• Means testing and pensions
• Pandemics, the different roles and priorities involved
• Potential benefits for pensioners in fuel poverty from the new technology and techniques.