Aging Equally? Employing Active Aging Policy in the United Kingdom

Abstract The UK’s responses to the challenges of ageing have largely focused on productivist notions of active ageing, with more comprehensive responses tending to be reactive and largely remedial. This presentation will show that productivist policies, often characterised by individual responsibility, including raising the retirement age, restricting access to early retirement, and providing a stronger link between pension benefits and contributions, have incentivised remaining in the labour market. These strategies have been justified in the context of ageing populations and increasing pension costs. However, opportunities to extend working lives have not been experienced equally. In practice most policies are gender blind. Furthermore, a more comprehensive approach to active ageing in the UK needs a collective emphasis to mobilise a wide range of societal resources, underpinned by a commitment to public welfare, which is highly problematic under neo-liberalism. Therefore, a comprehensive approach to ageing in the UK requires a substantial ideological shift.

general categorical fragmentation of Italian welfare system, although substantial developments were found in some sectors, i.e. prolonging working life, supporting families, social inclusion, and healthy ageing.Ten out of twenty-one regions have approved laws dedicated to active aging, although in most cases these laws are too recent to show impact.National and regional policy makers still need to overcome several cultural, coordination and fragmentation challenges for improving active aging policies and harmonise them with societal needs.

AGING EQUALLY? EMPLOYING ACTIVE AGING POLICY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Liam Foster, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England, United Kingdom The UK's responses to the challenges of ageing have largely focused on productivist notions of active ageing, with more comprehensive responses tending to be reactive and largely remedial.This presentation will show that productivist policies, often characterised by individual responsibility, including raising the retirement age, restricting access to early retirement, and providing a stronger link between pension benefits and contributions, have incentivised remaining in the labour market.These strategies have been justified in the context of ageing populations and increasing pension costs.However, opportunities to extend working lives have not been experienced equally.In practice most policies are gender blind.Furthermore, a more comprehensive approach to active ageing in the UK needs a collective emphasis to mobilise a wide range of societal resources, underpinned by a commitment to public welfare, which is highly problematic under neo-liberalism.Therefore, a comprehensive approach to ageing in the UK requires a substantial ideological shift.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THE ACTIVE AGING FRAMEWORK IN POLAND
Jolanta Perek-Białas, and Maria Varlamova, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Malopolskie, Poland Poland's relatively young population in the past, is aging rapidly, which provokes a growing interest in the realisation of the older population's potential within the framework of the concept of active ageing.From 2012, when the first Governmental Program on Social Participation (ASOS 2012-2013) was introduced, the active aging framework remains one of the dominant strategies in developing and implementing social policies for the older generation.In the current paper, the focus is made on the employment and social participation of older citizens policies, showing the considerable gap in the prioritisation and hence in the outcomes, highlighted both by Active Ageing Index (AAI) indicators and more in-depth analysis.We will discuss the perceived risks and pitfalls of the current long-term ageing policy approach in Poland and provide recommendations for improvement.

SOCIAL ISOLATION AND AGING OUT OF PLACE AMONG IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEE SENIORS IN CANADA
Shanthi Johnson, 1 Juanita-Dawne Bacsu, 2 Tom McIntosh, 3 Bonnie Jeffery, 3 and Nuelle Novik, 3 1.University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 2. University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 3. University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada Immigrant and refugee seniors experience cultural barriers, discrimination, and limited networks which increase the risk of social isolation and thus hinder their active participation in the society.This paper explores social isolation among immigrant and refugee seniors in Canada based on an environmental scan of federal/provincial/territorial and community-based programs and a systematic scoping review.Findings revealed important gaps and regional disparities in opportuntiies to reduce social isolation and great active participation.Research was limited, often qualitative in nature, typically based on larger urban centres, with measurement issues related to the need for consideration beyond one's living arrangements.The results highlight the need for greater understanding Canada's immigration and refugee system and policies, and collaboration across levels of government.Reducing issues of social isolation and enabling better active aging for vulnerable seniors require a more nuanced and multidimensional conceptualization with prioritization on addressing the unique factors of culture and geographical context.

POLICY SERIES: AGEISM: OUTCOMES, INTERVENTIONS, FUTURE DIRECTIONS Chair: Kelly Trevino Discussant: Becca Levy
Ageism is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age.Ageism toward older adults is ubiquitous in American society and takes many forms including prejudicial practices and institutional policies that lead to unfair treatment of older adults.Ageism negatively impacts older adults in numerous domains such as health care and the workplace.Older adults themselves often internalize ageist views with detrimental effects on physical and mental health including increased risk for suicidal ideation and worse memory performance.This symposium addresses ageism from multiple perspectives and describes strategies for detecting and combatting ageism.The first speaker is Patricia D'Antonio, Vice President of Policy and Professional Affairs of The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).Ms. D'Antonio will describe GSA's Reframing Aging Initiative which aims to improve the public's understanding of the meaning of aging in order to counter ageism and support policies and programs that benefit older adults.The second speaker, Dr. Fredriksen Goldsen will use an Age Equity Framework to present her research on the relationship between ageism and mental and physical health and quality of life in LGBTQ older adults.The third speaker, Dr. Gendron will describe a content analysis of an anti-ageism resource that evaluates ageism interventions using an ecological framework.The fourth speaker, Dr. Hinrichsen will discuss ways psychotherapists can help older adults identify and move beyond internalized ageist beliefs.Finally, Dr. Levy, an internationally recognized expert in ageism will discuss themes across speakers and comment on the future of work in this area.