Flexible aging: new ways to measure the diverse experience of population aging in Scotland

Elderly mortality has steadily declined in Scotland since the 1960s despite the persistence of large area differences and a life expectancy that remains below many other Western countries. Population aging will intensify in Scotland as fertility levels are set to remain below replacement level, while old-age mortality will continue to decline. By contrast, the speed of senescence will continue to slow down as older people become more active and health conscious, delaying the onset of chronic disease and reducing mortality. Population aging will therefore have substantial consequences both for individual wellbeing and society (incl. the sustainability of pension, health and care systems). However, to assess these consequences a better understanding of the relationship between individual and population aging is needed since the expansion of the older population will go together with changes in its composition and characteristics.
This study takes a sociodemographic approach to assess the challenges and opportunities of aging populations in different contexts by using data from the Scottish Longitudinal Survey. New aging indicators will be constructed for NHS Board Areas, measuring the elderly population based on years of “remaining” life expectancy. Estimates will also be made for social groups, marital and health status.