Unlocking Later Life

At Anchor, we believe that later life is for living. As the UK’s population ages, our society is facing some of the most pressing challenges since 1945: how will increasing longevity across society affect our way of life, our economy and our communities? How will we meet the inevitable growing health and care needs of a society in which over 20% of the population will be aged 65 and over by 2030?

These challenges are very real. However, in meeting these head on, the UK will be better placed to grasp the opportunities of our ageing population.

Our Unlocking Later Life report sets out ways in which we can transform our society and futureproof later life, to benefit not only the older people of today but those of tomorrow, and to fulfil the potential of our ageing society.

For more than 60 years, Anchor has provided housing and care to people in later life; creating thriving communities, enhancing health and wellbeing, and delivering the highest standards of care to older people.

This experience, along with the of thousands of residents living with us and the wealth of expertise within our workforce, has given us a unique insight into the desires and expectations of the UK’s ageing society. This includes how we see our continuing role within, and contribution to, society as we grow older.

We are keen to support topics that are important to our residents and older people. In creating this document, we have collated research, conducted focus groups and commissioned new nationwide polling, to gather the nation’s views about ageing and to raise awareness of the issues faced by older people, to influence positive change.

What our research shows is that too many of us enter later life feeling undervalued and misunderstood. We often experience a policy environment which exacerbates this, failing to meet our needs, as well as forcing us to step back from the economy and communities when we would like to continue to contribute.

Through engagement with our residents, wider research and collaboration with partners, we have written this report that includes a series of recommendations at both a national and local level to unlock opportunities for our ageing population, help ensure the financial security of older people, increase housing options for our ageing society and reform social care.

This is not just another list of ‘asks’ from government. These are challenges for us all; for businesses, for public services and for each one of us as individuals, Action now can positively change how we age. And ensure we all not only live longer, but love living in later life.

We invite you to read this report and share it widely.

Read the full Unlocking Later Life report here