Care Minister calls on business to seize opportunity of ageing population

Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage today called on businesses to seize the opportunities of a growing older market and help consumers age well.

Speaking at a Centre for Ageing Better event in London, Caroline argued that inclusive and innovative products and services play an important part in enabling people to remain healthy, independent and active for longer.

“Ageing is a subject which needs to be discussed in every boardroom across the country – from the large global corporates to the small local enterprises – because we need products that are more inclusive and also recognise the diverse needs of our older population,” The Minister said.

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“Ultimately, older people deserve better – better services, better products and better experiences in the workplace. Our ageing population represents a growing market and if UK businesses successfully grasp this opportunity they could not only reap huge dividends but also help people to age healthily, stay in their homes and communities for longer, and be more active and independent as they grow older.”

Ms Dinenage highlighted the role of technology in helping people age better, citing home appliances such as eye-level ovens and walk-in showers as well as AI and robotics. She highlighted how, for example, Amazon Alexa is being used as a memory aid.

A vibrant and inclusive market for products and jobs is an important part of the Government’s Ageing Society Grand Challenge, part of the Industrial Strategy, which aims to harness the power of innovation to help meet the needs of an ageing society. The Prime Minister pledged earlier this year to ensure people can enjoy five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, whilst narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest.

The Minister gave the keynote speech at the King’s Fund, which also included speeches by Dr Anna Dixon, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better; Sarah Weir OBE, Chief Executive, Design Council; Lance Batchelor, Group Chief Executive Officer, Saga; and Huw Edwards, Public Affairs Director, UK Active.