Baby boomers facing old age health crisis

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 19:07

THE baby-boomer generation, born shortly after the Second World War, faces an old age blighted by health problems because of poor diet and inactivity, a study has shown.

Those now in their sixties are also the first likely to be less healthy than their immediate predecessor, despite being the first generation to have access to free health care, alongside improvements in medical care and standards of living.

And academics warn the trend will put pressure on health services and could damage the economy.

Researcher Teresa Seeman, said: "The baby boomers, whatever health benefits they've enjoyed up until now. may not enjoy such a rosy old age."

Professor Seeman compared the health of thousands of men and women between 60 and 80 with those the same age a decade earlier.

She found one in five of those in their sixties needed help with basic daily activities, such as walking between rooms, getting in and out of bed, dressing and eating – an increase of 50 per cent on ten years ago.

And 50 per cent were more likely to have trouble walking a quarter of a mile or climb ten steps without a rest.

Even simply stooping, crouching, kneeling or getting out of a chair was 40 per cent more difficult, according the research published in the American Journal of Public Health.

Although the data was collected in the United States, the researchers say there is no reason to believe the UK would be any different.

Professor Seeman, of the University of California warned as more baby boomers reach their sixties the trend would have "significant and sobering" implications.

"The growing number of individuals aged 60 and older will place ever-growing demands on the healthcare system," she said: "Increased levels of disability, particularly among the youngest of older adults, may also negatively affect economic productivity."

Younger people would lose out if they have to "compete with older people for scarce resources in an overburdened healthcare system", she added.

British experts echoed the fears, and warned that younger generations could end up even less healthy because of their greater dependence on technology.

Cary Cooper, professor of health psychology at Lancaster University, said: "The public health message is to be active, climb the stairs, don't take lifts.

"It sounds trivial but it is not. Being active is good for psychological as well as physical health because you are relating to people in some way other than through a screen."