A group of international experts, including economists, policy makers, social scientists, researchers, and representatives of private sector, professional, and other associations, convened at Harris Manchester College in Oxford on June 26, 2014 to discuss the opportunities of the silver economy as a response to population aging. The day-long consultation was organized jointly by GCOA and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and built on the outcomes of an OECD-APEC Workshop on Anticipating Special Needs of the 21st Century Silver Economy, held in Tokyo in September 2012. For more information about this event, please visit the OECD website.

The third annual Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey questioned over 16,000 people in 15 countries – including Brazil, India and Turkey for the first time. The report finds that despite improving economic sentiment, people have clear concerns about their retirement. They do not feel sufficiently prepared and, worryingly, they are not acting on it.

This 2014 GCOA white paper urges global policy makers to develop policies and programs to maximize the potential of healthy and engaged older populations as active and productive resources that will revitalize and ensure sustainable growth. The paper offers insights and examples for how to utilize aging populations to drive economic growth.

The insights are focused in four areas:

• Investment in wellness and prevention to allow all citizens to stay active and productive economic contributors throughout the life course;
• Promotion of age-friendly businesses and entrepreneurship to maximize talent and create jobs;
• Movement of caregiving from institutions into the home and community through innovations in personal care and technology; and
• Development of age-friendly environments to ensure social and economic participation of older adults.

The insights were gathered from economic analysis and a series of policy dialogues hosted by GCOA, which included experts from across both public and private sectors, with economic, demographic, business and policy backgrounds. The policy dialogues took place in several locations, including Beijing, China; Istanbul, Turkey; and Bangkok, Thailand.

In 2013, GCOA set out to investigate the effects of travel on the healthy aging process and uncover how individuals are preparing to make their travel dreams a reality. The second piece of this two-part project is a survey report created in partnership with the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. The report reveals that although Americans prioritize travel and are beginning to understand its health benefits, they are not taking action to save for it as part of the healthy aging process.

See Part I

In 2013, GCOA set out to investigate the effects of travel on the healthy aging process and uncover how individuals are preparing to make their travel dreams a reality. The first piece of this two-part project is a meta-analysis of existing academic and social research. This first-of-its-kind research links travel – and the activities associated with travel – with positive health outcomes.

See Part II

The second annual Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey paints a picture of continued un-readiness when it comes to retirement planning. Despite increasing numbers of retirees, longer life expectancies and decreasing work age populations, all countries represented in the Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey showed a decline in readiness compared with 2012.

This 2013 report is based on findings from the second annual Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey, which analyzed multi-year trends and assesses the retirement expectations of 11,000 workers in 12 countries spanning Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. This report finds that the aspiration to save for retirement remains surprisingly strong for employees in their twenties. As the squeeze on household incomes places constraints on their ability to save, it is necessary to improve access to retirement products, preferably with clear tax benefits, and to better financial education and advice.

This 2013 GCOA report advocates for a life-course approach to vaccinations. The report underscores the need for a greater awareness of the role of vaccines as a preventive measure as the global population ages, highlighting that immunizations among adults remain below target levels. The result is unnecessary costs, unwanted health outcomes, and poor utilization of health resources.

In June 2013, GCOA and the OECD hosted an expert consultation on innovation for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia at Harris Manchester College. The aim of this consultation was to stimulate discussion and the highest possible level of expert engagement in setting out an agenda for OECD action to accelerate innovation for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Specifically, the objectives were to:

• Provide a space for country experts, policy makers and other stakeholders to share views on the main scientific, technological and policy challenges Alzheimer’s and dementia raise
• Create an opportunity for multidisciplinary exchange
• Capture views on how to move forward and develop concrete ideas for OECD action

Visit the OECD website for more information.

The first annual Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey aims to better understand prevailing attitudes about retirement planning and personal expectations among the current working generation within eight European countries, as well as the United States. The report confirms that immediate action is required to address a general lack of retirement readiness. People have, however, started to recognize the essential role they play in their retirement security.

The Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) led a panel discussion during the International Federation on Ageing 11th Global Conference on Ageing, in May 2012. The discussion explored the role of adult immunization to advance wellness and build effective prevention strategies across the life course. Experts on the topics of aging, health policy, economics, and immunization engaged in a dialogue on the value proposition of adult immunization and the path forward.

This 2010 survey from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies highlights the correlation between educational attainment and retirement confidence among American workers, as well as their ability to save and plan for retirement. It also makes recommendations for outreach initiatives and public policy, including promoting available tax incentives, improving financial and retirement literacy, and expanding retirement plan coverage, to help improve retirement security among all workers.