Academic English Unit 3: Will Living Longer Threaten our Lifestyle?

Will Living Longer Threaten our Lifestyle?

• Life expectancy has increased from around 50 to over 75 years in rich countries during the last century.
• Public health measures like vaccinations and antibiotics have greatly reduced deaths in childhood.
• The average number of children women have in their lifetime has decreased, leading to an ageing population in industrial countries.
• In the UK, the elderly population is expected to increase from 13% to 20% over the next 20 years.

Pension Funds and Healthcare

• Pension funds are increasing contributions from current members due to concerns that employees will live longer than originally thought, threatening to bankrupt the pension scheme.
• Governments are concerned about the rising cost of state pensions and healthcare for the elderly, which may put strains on fiscal systems.

Debating the Trend in Mortality

• Professor Jay Olshansky argues that the trend in lower mortality may not last much longer due to limited gains from saving babies and children compared to curing illnesses of old age.
• Even if all five leading causes of death for the elderly were cured, life expectancy would only increase by 10 years at best.
• Professor Olshansky criticizes the US Social Security Administration for over-estimating the likely decreases in mortality.

Disputing the Reversal of the Trend

• Graziella Caselli, an Italian demographer, disputes Olshansky's view, citing advances in healthcare and decline of smoking as leading to decreases in death rates from lung cancer and heart disease.
• The UK is lagging behind the trend, despite the NHS's emphasis on treating cancer and heart disease.

Living Longer and Better

• Advances in healthcare are leading to sharp decreases in death rates from lung cancer and heart disease, allowing people to live longer and enjoy a disease-free old age more often.
• People are forming new relationships and living together or "living apart and together", keeping their own accommodation, which may lead to a decline in demand for long-term institutional care for the elderly.

Housing Demand and Ageing Society

• The trend of older people living together or "living apart and together" may lead to higher demand for smaller units and sheltered housing.
• The International Longevity Centre-UK has launched the Longevity Expert Network, a searchable database of research on ageing and longevity issues.