Ageing Population
Abstract:
The objective of this report is to give a complete understanding on how current Trends and future Development will affect the Mental Health sector within the United Kingdom.
Introduction:
This report will explore the social trends associated with in the Mental health sector, this will give the reader a greater understanding on what Mental health sector ‘s are facing in the United kingdom and in will give a insight in future development within these trends.
Current Trends:
Ageing Population
The first current social trend is that of an ageing population. This means that as time has gone on, more people are progressing into 64+ years old than people being born. In fact, “in 2008 there were 3.2 people of working age for every person of pensionable age. This ratio is projected to fall to 2.8 by 2033.” (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/key-issues-for-the-new-parliament/value-for-money-in-public-services/the-ageing-population/) This has been introduced due to improvements in the quality of healthcare by the NHS due to improvements in technology, but also due to improved accessibility to healthcare, “increasing overall life expectancy”; this has been coupled with “falling fertility rates” as having children becomes less attractive …show more content…
(https://www.thoughtco.com/united-kingdoms-ageing-population-1435456) – and so increasing the number of older people compared to younger people, and so leading to an ageing population.
With an ageing population come more people suffering from dementia. This means “Staff in acute settings and care homes may need extra training in caring for people with dementia and delirium”. Consequently, by 2026, “the cost of dementia will rise by 61% to £24 billion” (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/time-to-think-differently/trends/disease-and-disability/care-demands-dementia). As a result, there will be more strain on the MHS to provide for this increased health demand, maybe leading to other areas of it becoming underfunded, and potentially leading to the MHS becoming a much more stressed sector of the UK.
Furthermore, as people grow older, they may become lonelier and therefore depressed.
“This can happen if you move home, if close friends or family move away or die or if poor health or mobility mean you can no longer take part in activities you’ve enjoyed for many years and you may end up feeling lonely” (http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/depression/what-is-depression/). This means more money will have to be diverted to treating depression in the elderly as the population ages, again perhaps under-cutting other areas of the MHS that perhaps aren’t under as much strain. This will come in the form of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), counselling, anti-depressant medication,
etc.
As time goes on, the NHS will face more austerity and an increased risk of privatisation (http://nhsforsale.info/privatisation-list.html). This means in order to afford care for mental health issues, elderly people will have to invest in health insurance so that they can be treated. This higher personal cost may increase the rates of depression, anxiety, etc. Amongst the elderly related to monetary issues. This could lead to further strain on the MHS as the population ages and as the NHS faces creeping privatisation.
The objective of this report is to give a complete understanding on how current Trends and future Development will affect the Mental Health sector within the United Kingdom.
Introduction:
This report will explore the social trends associated with in the Mental health sector, this will give the reader a greater understanding on what Mental health sector ‘s are facing in the United kingdom and in will give a insight in future development within these trends.
Current Trends:
Ageing Population
The first current social trend is that of an ageing population. This means that as time has gone on, more people are progressing into 64+ years old than people being born. In fact, “in 2008 there were 3.2 people of working age for every person of pensionable age. This ratio is projected to fall to 2.8 by 2033.” (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/key-issues-for-the-new-parliament/value-for-money-in-public-services/the-ageing-population/) This has been introduced due to improvements in the quality of healthcare by the NHS due to improvements in technology, but also due to improved accessibility to healthcare, “increasing overall life expectancy”; this has been coupled with “falling fertility rates” as having children becomes less attractive …show more content…
(https://www.thoughtco.com/united-kingdoms-ageing-population-1435456) – and so increasing the number of older people compared to younger people, and so leading to an ageing population.
With an ageing population come more people suffering from dementia. This means “Staff in acute settings and care homes may need extra training in caring for people with dementia and delirium”. Consequently, by 2026, “the cost of dementia will rise by 61% to £24 billion” (https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/time-to-think-differently/trends/disease-and-disability/care-demands-dementia). As a result, there will be more strain on the MHS to provide for this increased health demand, maybe leading to other areas of it becoming underfunded, and potentially leading to the MHS becoming a much more stressed sector of the UK.
Furthermore, as people grow older, they may become lonelier and therefore depressed.
“This can happen if you move home, if close friends or family move away or die or if poor health or mobility mean you can no longer take part in activities you’ve enjoyed for many years and you may end up feeling lonely” (http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/depression/what-is-depression/). This means more money will have to be diverted to treating depression in the elderly as the population ages, again perhaps under-cutting other areas of the MHS that perhaps aren’t under as much strain. This will come in the form of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), counselling, anti-depressant medication,
etc.
As time goes on, the NHS will face more austerity and an increased risk of privatisation (http://nhsforsale.info/privatisation-list.html). This means in order to afford care for mental health issues, elderly people will have to invest in health insurance so that they can be treated. This higher personal cost may increase the rates of depression, anxiety, etc. Amongst the elderly related to monetary issues. This could lead to further strain on the MHS as the population ages and as the NHS faces creeping privatisation.