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Switzerland ranked best place to grow older - where is UK?

(94 Posts)
LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 09-Sept-15 11:31:52

Age International has today released its Global AgeWatch Index today, which ranks quality of life for older people around the world.

- Switzerland is top
- UK finally enters the top 10 (just)

What do you think? Do older people have a good quality of life here?
Have you ever considered moving elsewhere in order to improve your quality of life?
What do you think needs to be done in order to move the UK further up the list?

BlackeyedSusan Wed 09-Sept-15 11:49:42

I think they mentioned something about loneliness on the radio.

ginny Wed 09-Sept-15 11:53:36

I hate this the of survey / article. There are so many variables.

POGS Wed 09-Sept-15 12:17:20

Ginny

I agree with you.

granoffour Wed 09-Sept-15 12:31:03

I'm surprised France and Australia aren't higher up. People are always retiring to those countries so I always assumed the standard of living for older people was better. There are variables, yes. So, healthcare has to be one of the top, but I think something that is very hard to gauge is the attitude towards older people. Making them/us feel valued in society as opposed to an invisible entity. I think the UK has a long way to go with regards to this. Older people are still (largely) ignored and ridiculed in society and that needs changing.

soontobe Wed 09-Sept-15 13:07:44

I think ranked 10 in the world of best whatever is pretty good.

If you moved to another country higher up the list you may find things are worse in other respects.

I would have thought that most older people would like more pension amd at a younger age.

yogagran Wed 09-Sept-15 13:28:56

Even in the UK there are huge differences depending on which county you are in

Bellanonna Wed 09-Sept-15 13:49:49

Good point soon. There are so many other things. I haven't looked at the table yet, but I would not enjoy living in a very hot or very cold country, or where The roads are dangerous, but the big thing for me is that I would never leave my family. That's what makes me happy. Well, most of the time.

janeainsworth Wed 09-Sept-15 16:48:41

I saw this thread title and assumed Granjura had started it grin

Ana Wed 09-Sept-15 16:51:29

grin Yes, I'm surprised that granjura hasn't yet given us her opinion on the OP.

POGS Wed 09-Sept-15 16:55:31

blush. Me too.

ginny Wed 09-Sept-15 17:06:32

What other info. do they base the results. The chart as it stands is meaningless.

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Wed 09-Sept-15 17:20:42

Here's a link to more info on the UK specifically - though you can also read the report in general here.

Penstemmon Wed 09-Sept-15 17:35:32

I have never been to Switzerland so cannot really comment on personal experience but my father disliked Switzerland because of its 'neutrality' during the war and that seems to have stuck with me confused

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 09-Sept-15 17:44:13

!!! We've got a National Policy on Ageing!

Anyone know what is? (How long are we allowed to go on doing it for?)

Mamie Wed 09-Sept-15 17:45:43

France's lower ranking seems to be mostly about employment and educational attainment. This doesn't surprise me as many friends of my age (65) left school at 14. They talk with some bitterness of life in the village school, where you were first taught by the older pupils, then for a few years by the ma??tre, then you taught the youngest pupils. The larger families got to stay on a bit longer because they got more family allowance.
France ranks high on health and pension coverage as you might expect.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 09-Sept-15 17:46:27

I can't understand anymore of that. What's that wheel thing all about? #ofverylittlebrain

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 09-Sept-15 17:47:32

UK has got 100 percent pension coverage! France can't top that.

Mamie Wed 09-Sept-15 17:47:56

I am not sure why my original spelling of maitre with a circumflex has been rendered as ??.
Bizarre.

Mamie Wed 09-Sept-15 17:49:30

Er no. You can't top a 100%. hmm I wasn't entering into a competition though.

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 09-Sept-15 17:50:58

smile

I was.

Mamie Wed 09-Sept-15 18:00:10

Best not look at the health domain then. grin

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 09-Sept-15 18:35:06

I've only got 3.7 years of healthy life left.

Oh God! Where's that Fitbit - quick!!!

durhamjen Wed 09-Sept-15 18:49:40

Too late for me, jingl.

Does anyone remember Roz Altmann coming on here to talk about pensions?

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/09/07/tory-minister-baroness-al_n_8100824.html?1441663552&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

What do you think to this?

jinglbellsfrocks Wed 09-Sept-15 18:55:57

Well, she was just hedging her bets wasn't she? grin

Anyway, what woman can make her mind up. Perhaps she was still thinking about it. grin