The UK government is attempting to cope with an aging population by delaying the retirement age and increasing the age for receiving state pensions. This forces people to work longer and continue paying taxes to fund increased social services and healthcare for the elderly, such as nursing homes. Younger populations are declining so less money is being allocated to education and more is being spent on healthcare and social provision for the aging population.

1. Describe how governments are attempting to cope with the problems
of an ageing population (LP2008)
The UK government is having to consider introducing policies such as
delaying the age at which people are able to receive their state pension.
This means that people have to work longer so they can go on paying taxes
that can be used to pay for increased social service provision. More
money is being allocated to fund health care and social provision for the
elderly such as nursing homes rather than into education budgets because
there are fewer children.
Using an example(s) describe the problems of a country with an
ageing population (6)
In the UK the retirement age has been increased to more than 65
because of the economic implications of so many people claiming their
entitlement to a state pension. Government is currently reviewing public
sector pension provision and people have been encouraged to pay more
into their own pensions funds. The NHS is suffering a funding crisis
because there is more demand from an increasing ageing population
suffering diseases more commonly associated with an older population
such as dementia, cancer, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. There is
also more demand for social care for elderly, providing residential and
nursing homes together with other provision to assist the elderly living in
their own homes. As the UK’s population continues to age, there will be a
smaller working population and a larger dependent population which means
fewer people paying taxes and national insurance. This will reduce the
ability of the government to fund for the increasing demands of health
care, pensions etc.