Term 'baby boomer' used to 'inflame divisions' between young and old

The Ready for Ageing Alliance (RAA) has published a new report to dispel the myth that the generation of post-war ‘baby boomers’ aged between 55 and 70, have benefited at the expense of younger age groups.

The charities' report, titled ‘The Myth of the Baby Boomer,’ has presented compelling evidence that ‘baby boomers’ are in fact a diverse group of people in virtually every aspect of their lives. The report argues that, in reality, one of the few things this group shares is chronological age and the term ‘baby boomer’ has become an overused shorthand to inaccurately describe everybody in a single age group.

David Sinclair, spokesperson for the RAA, commented: “The term baby boomer seems to be increasingly used to inflame divisions and resentment between younger and older generations.

“The report highlights that while some boomers are ageing successfully, there is huge diversity in income, wealth and experiences of those aged 55–70.

“Our ageing society will impact on both young and older people. Today’s younger people are tomorrow’s older. If we are to ensure our increasingly ageing society is prosperous for all future generations, we must find ways of bring older and younger together rather than pitch them against each other.”

Findings from the report have revealed that some boomers can expect to live a long time in good health, with men in the most deprived parts of England expected to live 52.2 years, compared to 70.5 in the least deprived areas. Some 6.7m people aged 45-64 have a long standing illness or a disability.

Additionally, the report has suggested that many ‘baby boomers’ may have benefitted from house price inflation, yet under half of those individuals aged 55 to 64 own their property, with 24 per cent living in rented accommodation.

Similarly, the report has found that while some boomers will retire with good pension provision, almost three in ten 55 to 64 year olds in Great Britain do not have a retirement fund.

Commenting on the importance of health care, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Society, George McNamara, said: “Society is not geared up to meet the needs of an ageing population. By 2021 there will be over one million people living with dementia in the UK. Given the poor levels of care and support that many people with dementia already experience, this is an issue we cannot ignore.

“Baby Boomers may have benefited in some areas but there are clearly huge disparities in lifestyle, including income, wealth and experiences, with many facing significant challenges in later life. No social or generational group are immune to dementia, and the high cost of care is an increasing worry for many people with dementia and their families. There is an ongoing struggle to access vital care and support, which is having a detrimental impact on their quality of life.

“Regardless of their background it is essential everyone has access to good quality health and social care throughout their life. Generations must work together to support older people today and into the future.”