This paper aims to brief policymakers on early action – intervening earlier at all points in people’s lives, not just in early childhood - to prevent costly problems from arising later. The paper sets out a framework for an early action strategy, which combines three key components: building support for early action goals, developing long term plans to deliver them and investing in early action. It suggests two overarching social goals, namely people living healthier, happier and independent lives, including in their advanced years and equal access to good mental and physical health, and economic and social opportunities. It advocates ten year social and capital investment plans, while identifying short termism as a barrier to early action and calls for better information on what is being spent to aid transparency, increased investment in early action, incentives to break down institutional silos that prevent effective action and encourage collaboration and integration and innovation, with more action at local level, to find better ways to address social problems and unlock people’s potential. The paper also explores what an early action strategy might look like in practice, focusing on older people as one example.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper aims to brief policymakers on early action – intervening earlier at all points in people’s lives, not just in early childhood - to prevent costly problems from arising later. The paper sets out a framework for an early action strategy, which combines three key components: building support for early action goals, developing long term plans to deliver them and investing in early action. It suggests two overarching social goals, namely people living healthier, happier and independent lives, including in their advanced years and equal access to good mental and physical health, and economic and social opportunities. It advocates ten year social and capital investment plans, while identifying short termism as a barrier to early action and calls for better information on what is being spent to aid transparency, increased investment in early action, incentives to break down institutional silos that prevent effective action and encourage collaboration and integration and innovation, with more action at local level, to find better ways to address social problems and unlock people’s potential. The paper also explores what an early action strategy might look like in practice, focusing on older people as one example.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
early intervention, prevention, resource allocation, older people, long term outcomes, planning, government policy;
The Early Action Task Force, a group of leaders led by the charity CommunityLinks, put forward their ideas to help build a new vision of ageing. They suggest nine ways in which society will have to change to bring about this vision to increase well-being and provide a good later life. These include: promoting positive attitudes to ageing; abolish age-related benefits; changing attitudes towards
(Original abstract)
The Early Action Task Force, a group of leaders led by the charity CommunityLinks, put forward their ideas to help build a new vision of ageing. They suggest nine ways in which society will have to change to bring about this vision to increase well-being and provide a good later life. These include: promoting positive attitudes to ageing; abolish age-related benefits; changing attitudes towards traditional retirement; prioritise meaningful relationships and social connections; build a physical environment suitable for later life; transform the care system; and promoting resilience in later life. The final chapter draws out some implications for government.
(Original abstract)
Subject terms:
ageing, older people, quality of life, wellbeing, environment, interpersonal relationships, social care provision, resilience;