Why do policy makers see the family as central to the solutions of social problems - Essay Example

In this paper, I will discuss the problem of older people in the United Kingdom and see why this issue related to the family is so important for policy makers. The demographics of the United Kingdom have been changing over the years in a manner that the proportion of older people is increasing. As a result of higher life expectancy at birth as well as above 65 and lower birth rates - at 2.2 per woman - the proportion of the elderly is expected to grow even further (Jeevans, 2004). It is estimated that by 2025, over 30 percent of the UK population will be above the age 55.

Not just that, the government projects that as early as 2014, the number of people above 65 will be higher than those below 16. In 1981, the life expectancy of men at 60 was another 16 years while that of women was another 21 years. In 2003, it was 20 for men and 23 for women. The government projects that in 2026, it will be 24 and 27 for men and women respectively (Jeevans, 2004). According to the International Longevity Centre - UK (2006), the population in the UK and Wales is expected to grow by 6.

5 million till 2031, of which 5.6 million will be above 65 years and 2.3 million above 80 years. The south east and north-west parts of the country have the highest number of people above 65 years while the east Midlands and the east are expected to have the highest growth in the number of elders by 2028.Although the baby boomer generation looks at ageing in a considerably different manner than did earlier generations, with more people above 65 having gainfully employed lives and 30 percent of people above 75 helping out other older people who are in need (Jeevans, 2004), there are frequent media reports of institutional abuse on the elderly, particularly on those who suffer from dementia or learning disabilities.

According to the International Longevity Centre - UK (2006), 1 in 100 people in the UK suffer from dementia. The figure is 1 in 20 for the age group between 70 and 79 years, 1 in 5 for people between 80 and 85 and 1 in three for those above 90. Hence, the issue of abuse takes crucial importance for such elders who are not able to look after themselves.The prevalence of elder abuse While the proportion of older people in the population of UK, there is also an increasing tendency of treating seniors in an abusive manner.

Although there is little academic research on elder abuse in the United Kingdom, the lack of social awareness regarding this problem subjects older people to pathetic conditions at the twilight of their lives. To make things worse, elder abuse is quite prevalent in the family setting, making this a concern for social policy makers. The most comprehensive study on elder abuse was conducted by Ogg and Bennett (1992) who surveyed a sample of about 2,000 people. They found that about 5 percent of the elders above 60 years of age suffered verbal or psychological abuse while 2 percent suffered physical or financial abuse from family and relatives.

However, it must also be noted that not many older people would like to report abuse from the family. A survey by the Community and District Nursing Association found in 2003 elder abuse was as prevalent as 88 percent and 12 percent of elders reported abuse at least once