Women’s life expectancy declining

We wanted a government that would cut public services and neglect healthcare, so we voted conservative.

It's not a decline in life expectancy, it's a slowing down of the rate of increase in life expectancy.

Like Babdoc, I think that for those who have adequate health, remaining in work might carry benefits with it. tbh, I'm somebody who'd like to think that society would support me working part-time if I were to develop a long-term condition that needed a lot of self-management. (I also think this should be available to carers but that's a different point.)

However, there is clearly something amiss in the the health of some demographics. And we have a long way to go in reaching people who are largely disengaged from healthcare.

(I can't listen to a programme - deafness.)

It’s rather simplistic to try and blame cuts in benefits for this. A lot of it is down to obesity and diabetes. The poor tend to eat more high calorie junk food, and are resistant to health messages to cut smoking and drinking.
Staying in work until older can actually benefit health, as it provides social contact and a sense of purpose. Many people take up new jobs shortly after retirement, citing boredom or loneliness - B and Q actively recruit pensioners.
I think life expectancy has already peaked. We will see a decline across the board, as the currently obese and wine swigging middle aged generation become elderly with prematurely furred up arteries, alcoholic liver damage (we’re already seeing cirrhosis in 30 year olds) and the increased cancer risk that obesity brings.

Well, yes, it’s to be expected. I won’t retire until 67. My sister in law is retiring at 65. I don’t know any that are lucky enough to work part time. Everyone works full time - until they get ill and lose their jobs. Then they are unemployed. Women live longer than men, earn less, and many will be in poverty in later years. Most women I know are single and don’t have partners and/or children to help.

I also wondered if the increase in retirement age will start to take effect...my mum is 63 and still working full-time, she now stays in bed all day saturday. She's had four children.

I am glad you posted about this peapod29. Until now, we have seen bigger increases in life expectancy among women so this finding should make politicians and policymakers pay attention. I wonder if it is partly because more of the burden of poverty falls on women - eg working two jobs and still struggling to get enough food on the table. I noted that the report also highlights increased rates of depression, alcohol and drug use among women. It’s really grim reading.

This has been know for a couple of years

The public voted for more of the same at the last election so there is sod all we can do about it

Didnt hear / read about this..saw the headline and thought yeah, well what did anyone expect.

It seems to be what people actually want. I sometimes feel angry, but lately I just feel like if that's people are happy to accept rather than raised taxes , a society focussed on people not economics and a more even spread of wealth, then I might as well just look after myself

Bit down about it all really