Retired ‘facing life of sickness and hardship’

A GENERATION of people could be entering retirement in poor health and without enough money to support themselves, researchers have warned.

A fifth of people aged 50 to 70 have seen their physical health deteriorate during the lockdown period, and over a third say their mental health is worse, according to research from the Centre for Ageing Better released today.

More than half have had a medical or dental appointment delayed or cancelled, prompting fears that untreated conditions could set back the health of this generation irreparably, and more than a third of this age group have been drinking more alcohol during lockdown with a further third smoking more.

These new figures also raise concerns that the impact of lockdown could seriously damage this generation’s financial future.

Almost half believe that their personal finances will worsen over the next year, and only 39 per cent of those who are currently furloughed or of working age but not in employment are confident that they will be employed in the future.

The Centre for Ageing Better warned that without action, the impact of lockdown risks creating a “lost generation” of pensioners in poor health and financially insecure.

With health inequalities already

on the rise, the think-tank said that without action these inequalities risk becoming entrenched within this generation of retirees.

The new figures show that the unemployed and those who anticipate

A warning from the Centre for Ageing Better. their finances worsening over the next year are more likely to have seen their health deteriorate over the lockdown period.

Anna Dixon, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “These figures are deeply worrying. If this generation continues to be an afterthought in the coronavirus recovery, we will see a lost generation entering retirement in poorer health and worse financial circumstances than those before them.

“We know that the over-50s already face serious disadvantages in the workforce, are more likely to be made redundant and struggle more than any other group to get back into work once they have fallen out. And yet this group are being ignored when it comes to proposed actions to support the recovery.

“At the same time, it’s clear that this group also face serious risks to their health. More than one in five have seen their health deteriorate during lockdown. We need to see much stronger action to improve the health of the population and tackle the causes of preventable illness and disability, especially in poorer areas.”

Ben Page, chief executive at Ipsos Mori, which carried out the research, said: “This new survey shows how older people have suffered during the Covid-19 crisis – and are likely to suffer afterwards as older workers may – as in 2008 – be more likely to be laid off in the looming recession, and find it harder to get new jobs.

“It is not just new entrants to the jobs market who will suffer, but also older workers.”

Without action these inequalities risk becoming entrenched.