Living to 100, a new report, published today as part of the ILC-UK Age UK Fellowship finds that there is some evidence that centenarians continue to enjoy better physical health during centenarian years compared to other groups of older people, effectively avoiding many of the conditions associated with old age.

However, the report highlights that future health and social care services may witness a higher demand from the centenarian population. The report argues that gains being made in the survival rate may not match gains in disease free survival.

 

The report also points out that quality of life among the oldest old is found to decrease with age and that the oldest old (aged 85 and over) are, as a group, at greater risk of poverty than younger older people (aged 65-85).

 

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director at Age UK said: “This report highlights the growing numbers of centenarians in the UK, which is the result of great progress in medicine and improvements in standards of living over the last century. Today one in five twenty years old will reach and surpass the 100 year mark. However, there is a real dearth of evidence on what life is like for centenarians and it is clear that advances that have led to increased longevity must now be matched by similar progress in ensuring people are supported to live full and happy lives as they reach 100 and beyond.”

 

David Sinclair, Assistant Director – Policy and Communications, at ILC-UK said “Whilst reaching 100 years of age is an aspiration for many, it is one which few people have achieved. With significant growth in the numbers of centenarians ahead, it is vital now that our efforts are focussed on understanding how we support and deliver improvements in quality of life for the oldest old. Government and other policy makers must begin to better adapt services to address this huge demographic change ahead of us.”

 

Dr Dylan Kneale, Head of Research at ILC-UK added “While advances have been made in researching what factors predict we might reach the age of 100, less attention has been paid to what life is like for centenarians. This report has highlighted a major gap in the evidence base. We simply do not know enough about the oldest old. If society is to adapt to our changing demography we must develop that evidence base”.

 

Launching the report ILC-UK call for:

 

• Significant development of the evidence base about centenarians in order 
  to inform current and future ageing strategies.

 

• Policy-makers to take a more holistic approach to designing interventions 
  that integrate health, care and housing solutions. 

 

• Investment in ways of increasing the accessibility and appeal of social or 
  interest groups to centenarians. 

 

• Developers to plan for growing numbers of centenarians through ensuring 
  that housing and neighbourhoods are better designed and/or adequately 
  adapted to meet the needs of a growing centenarian population.

• Energy companies to ensure that their oldest customers access the best 
  deals.

• Employers to ensure that they find ways to provide flexible working to 
  ensure that caring responsibilities do not pull people out of the workforce 
  early.

• The Government should introduce a care voucher scheme for adults, 
  similar to childcare vouchers, which would allow people of all ages to buy 
  care vouchers to support the needs of older adults. This may help older 
  carers of centenarians stay in the workplace longer.

 

What do we know about the oldest old: Key facts taken from “Living Beyond 100”:

• Centenarians currently number 12,640.

 

• This number is set to rise substantially and expected to reach half a 
  million by 2066.

• One in five young people aged under 20 can expect to become a 
  centenarian.

• Although we can expect a rise in the centenarian population, in the next 
  century we are highly unlikely to see rises in record life expectancy that 
  substantially overtake the current UK record (115 years).

• Sixty per-cent of over 90s report difficulties shopping for groceries, 
  almost a quarter report difficulties making telephone calls and 35% report 
  difficulties managing money.

• Of those living in private households, four in ten very old men and seven 
  out of ten very old women live alone.

• Centenarians have been overwhelmingly female, although there is greater

  gender balance with each successive cohort of centenarians.

• 47% of centenarians live in communal establishments.

• Total net wealth (including state pension wealth) is generally found to   
  decline with age after 65, reaching its lowest for oldest old (85+), who on 
  average have £155,600 compared to the £379,200 of older people aged 
  65-69.

• Up to 10% of the oldest old have total net wealth of £3,000 or less.

 

• While the oldest old and centenarians may be those who are at greatest 
  risk of poverty, those aged 90+ were the least likely to feel that they had 
  too little money to spend (15% of those aged 90+, compared to 19% 

  aged 85-89 and 21% aged 80-84).

 

Click here to go to the International Longevity Centre website