As the CMO highlights, being in fulfilling work for longer can also help with being mentally and physically active. As the report points out, a third of British workers will be over the age of 50 by 2020, but employers are lagging behind in being age-friendly. We know that there are at least a million people between 50 and the state pension age who are out of the labour market but want to be in work. Age-friendly employers need to have policies to support carers, flexible working, and support for people with long-term conditions whilst they work. Recruiting over 50s without age bias, retraining people for new stages in their working lives, and retaining existing workers are crucial to help people work for longer.
We also know that social connections are important to wellbeing in later life. Volunteering – both formally and informally – is a great way of helping people increase their social circles, as well as keeping physically and mentally active.