Issue Healthy life expectancy stalling without prevention and early detection

Summary

Among the longer-term uncertainties of demographic change, the report raises the possibility that healthy life expectancy stops improving. This could happen if progress in the early detection and treatment of conditions such as dementia stays slow and preventive healthcare remains underfunded. In that case demand for care would grow and health service budgets would come under mounting pressure. The report also points out that ageing raises demand for health and social care while a smaller working-age population could shrink the workforce. On the other hand, it sees health measures such as screening as a way to delay or prevent serious disease, improving quality of life and easing the burden on health and welfare systems when older people stay physically and mentally well.