Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
04 September 2015 09:13
Men and women are living longer
People continue to lead longer and fuller lives - and it appears men are catching up with women when it comes to life expectancy rates.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show men can now expect to live until 79 while women can hope to reach 83.
Advances in medical treatments are said to be part of the reason why people are enjoying longer lives.
Century of change
The data also reveals life expectancy at birth has increased by almost three years per decade over the last 100 years.
Men born in 1910/12 across England and Wales were expected to live to 51. Now they will likely live to see 79.
Among women, life expectancy has jumped from 55 to 83 during the same period.
In addition to the better treatment of illness in old age, the ONS also attributes the change to falling death rates among babies and children.
People aged 60 could expect to live around nine years longer in 2010/12, compared to 100 years earlier.
Care system
With life expectancy constantly getting higher, people have more time to travel the world in their retirement.
Whether it is the trip of a lifetime, taking in multiple continents over several months, or just a week on a beach somewhere, seniors travel insurance lets the over-60s venture abroad, knowing they are covered for any eventuality.
But an ageing population brings with it a number of challenges, particularly regarding care.
Andrew Kaye, head of policy and campaigns at Independent Age, says the country's ageing population is one of the most important issues facing society, putting an enormous strain on the care system.
If the UK is to be the best place to grow old in, he claims an honest debate is needed about what kind of health, social, housing and transport services the older population wants - and how much society is willing to pay for them.
22 September 2017
A new computer code that can be applied to GP surgery data could be the answer to identifying those most at risk of developing bowel cancer.
[more...]
21 September 2017
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning over a growing resistance to antibiotics.
20 September 2017
Thousands of Ryanair flights have been cancelled over the next six weeks, as the airline says it "messed up" allocation of its pilots' annual leave.
19 September 2017
Manchester's Girlguides are being urged to help the elderly with a new badge incentivising youngsters to tackle senior loneliness.
16 September 2017
Holidaymakers are being evacuated as winds up to 200km per hour hit Central Vietnam, with Typhoon Doksuri damaging houses, roads and infrastructure.
15 September 2017
People in parts of East Anglia are eight times more likely to survive liver disease than Blackpool residents, according to new data by Public Health England (PHE).
14 September 2017
A non-invasive alternative to gastric bypass surgery that helps people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight is being recommended for widespread use by NHS experts.
13 September 2017
Almost half of UK adults travelling to areas at risk of malaria are not covering themselves by taking medication, despite recommendations made by the NHS and world health organisations.
12 September 2017
A new health warning has been issued by scientists in Sweden, suggesting e-cigarettes with nicotine could lead to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
09 September 2017
Researchers have developed a futuristic pen-like device that can tell whether someone has cancer much faster than current technology.
08 September 2017
A staffing crisis in the NHS is seeing cancer patients turned away from their GP surgery and instead visiting A&E, a report has claimed.
07 September 2017
Whether it's binge-watching box-sets, shopping for clothes, chatting to friends or picking up work emails, staying connected is pretty much essential to everyday life.