Intelligent homes with technology able to warn elderly occupants of impending hazards, and a ‘quid pro quo’ care trading network were among the subjects discussed by the world’s leading experts on ageing at a debate held by Pfizer UK and RSA in May.

The event, which explored the challenges and opportunities posed by rapidly ageing populations in the 21st Century, took place fifty years after the discovery of DNA when the average age of a European was 29.5 years. Fifty years from now it will be 49.5 years. In the UK alone, one in five people will be over 65 by the year 2020, and almost half of these will be 75 or over.

Professor Heinz Wolff of Brunel University took the notion of ‘love thy neighbour’ into the 21st century, proposing a revolutionary new care network in which volunteers without any blood ties, care for older people, in return for a down payment for their own care in the future, or some other support or service.

He also talked about the ‘Millennium Homes’ Project. The 21st century version of the Stannah stairlift, this is intelligent robotic housing, enabling older people to live independently in their own homes, which can alert the occupier to hazards and prevent accidents.

WHO’s three pillars
Dr Alex Kalache of the World Health Organisation explored the global contradiction that “the developed world became rich before it became old, and developing countries are becoming old before they become rich”. He also discussed the ‘three pillars’ of the WHO’s policy for active ageing: health, security and participation.

Miranda Kavanagh, Director of Corporate and Public Affairs at Pfizer UK, commented:
“One of the first challenges of the ageing population is to move public thinking on from the current preoccupation with youth, and engage people with the vision of a more active and empowered ageing experience.

“The facts speak for themselves: by 2050 more Europeans will be over 65 than under and in Germany, Spain and Italy there will be more people over 80 than under 20. As the Oxford Institute of Ageing has recently pointed out, this demographic change provides not only challenges but also opportunities to harness the experience, expertise and creativity of such a large number of older people”.

“This RSA lecture is part of our ongoing commitment to better understanding the phenomenon of ageing and finding ways of improving the quality of life in older age. We look forward enormously to welcoming these leading commentators on ageing and helping take the debate forward.”

For more information, interviews or pictures, contact Simon Burton, Liz Hawker or Jenna Frost on 020 7839 4321 or
Sally Goodenough at Pfizer on 01737 331537.

Extract of Press Release by Pfizer