Coordinated approach needed to tackle consequences of ageing population

Speaking at the UK Age Research Forum (UKARF) conference in London, the author of Age of Ageing will warn that funding care and benefits for the over 65s generation for the rest of their lives will cost a total of more than three times the country's GDP. However, he says, we are failing to successfully confront this issue because of 'piecemeal and disconnected thinking'.

Mr Magnus will address his comments to more than 250 experts from the world of old age research who have come together to discuss the importance of research communities and funders working together to enhance the lives of older people.

Ahead of the event, he said:

'Because of the financial crisis people are talking about things they hadn't previously talked about such as our ageing population. This gives us an opportunity so we must cast aside old assumptions and attack this in a different way. People from different disciplines looking at things such as workforce, care and pensions must now work together towards the same goal.'

Mr Magnus is one of a number of the speakers talking at the UKARF conference which this year has the theme 'Promoting collaboration of age research'. The event will be opened by forum chairperson and Alzheimer's Society Interim Chief Executive Ruth Sutherland and chaired by ITV newsreader Nina Hossain. Other topics on the agenda include innovation for independent living and getting research into practice.

Ruth Sutherland said:

'We cannot hide from the fact that we live in an ageing population yet research into ageing is too often underfunded and undervalued. Research in this field has the power to transform the lives of millions of people and save the already creaking economy hundreds of millions of pounds a year. For this to happen we need investment now, not tomorrow but today.

'It is fantastic to see so many influential organisations and people coming together to discuss how we can improve the lives of some of society's most vulnerable members. By working in partnership we can ensure we are making the most of this country's excellent research potential in the field.'

UKARF is a strategic partnership between government, research councils and charities that aims to make a positive difference to the lives of older people through research. It promotes the coordination of research funding among its members through regular communication, expert groups and public events.