The age-old political problem of old age
Older people seemed to get a good deal out of the Spending Review but there are challenges ahead
I've been thinking a lot about ageing this week.
Don't worry, I'm not having an existential crisis.
Instead, it's the politics of ageing that's occupying me, rather than my own inevitable biological decline (now I am depressing myself).
It's been prompted by new ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ-commissioned research which will be published next week.
The data from focuses on our ageing population and the potential vulnerability of older people to cuts.
There'll be more of that on Sunday's Politics Show as we reveal some of the information.
On the face of it though, in the Spending Review.
While Child Benefit's universal status was ended, bus passes, free TV licences and winter fuel payments escaped means testing.
Free eye tests and free prescriptions also stay.
The state pension is also being re-linked to earnings, and there's even .
And amid council cuts, the Government said it had found £2bn to put into adult social care.
So good news for older people, but also potentially good politics as pensioners are the most likely group of people to vote.
But beneath the headlines there are some potential problems ahead for the older generation.
Many are reliant on our social care system and .
The says the £2bn will only go so far given the demands councils are likely to face in the future.
Indeed it says there's multi-billion pound shortfall in the care system.
And as the £2bn will not be ringfenced, many councils may be tempted to raid it to spend on other services.
The LGA says money isn't necessarily the answer though.
from one where older people end up in care centres and nursing homes, to one where most can remain in their own homes.
In addition of course, the Government has yet to come up with a solution to the problem of funding long term care.
All the main political parties are agreed that older people shouldn't have to sell their homes to fund care, but as yet no solution is planned.
The set up yet another Commission on long term care which has to report on possible solutions within a year.
An insurance scheme is one option it'll consider but, in the current financial climate, the Government's generosity may be limited.
A plan for people to earn care credits by looking after the current generation of older people is another potentially cheaper possibility floated in the last week.
The outlook for the next generation of pensioners doesn't look that rosy though.
The collapse in value of many private pensions and the likely decline in the value of public sector schemes will leave many worse off than their parents.
Many will also have to wait longer for the state pension too as we move towards .
Of course, there are many opportunities offered by an ageing population too. It should be a cause of celebration that we're living longer.
Older people can be an excellent part of the workforce if allowed to contribute, and many now provide invaluable care for their grandchildren.
So are we ready for the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population? Let me know what you think.
I'm Richard Moss, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's Political Editor for the North East and Cumbria. Welcome to my irreverent - but hopefully insightful - northern take on reporting politics for Look North and the Politics Show.
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