With the help of technology, people are healthier for longer and can enjoy extended retirements.
Rising longevity is a success story of our time. The last century has seen advances in health care and nutrition which mean more people than ever before are living well into their 80s and beyond.
Simultaneously, birth rates have fallen across the globe. As a result, the world is seeing a sharp rise in older generations. The World Bank estimates that by 2030, the share of the population aged 60 and over will rise to 1.4 billion, and 2.1 billion by 2050. Similarly, the number of people aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million.
Thanks to substantial savings and in some countries, generous social safety nets, many of today’s retirees enjoy comfortable retirements. That being said, older generations tend to have greater health and personal care needs than younger people. As a result, industries such as healthcare, leisure and financial services are being impacted by the shift to an ageing population.
Extended longevity does not always equate to a life free from illness. Modelling by the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre and the University of Liverpool projects the number of people living with major illness will increase by 37 percent by 20401. With an ageing demographic, the pressure on healthcare systems intensifies.
“The critical challenge lies in resourcing healthcare in a manner that can keep pace with increasing demands,” notes Stephen Metcalf, head of sustainable investing at RBC Wealth Management in the British Isles and Asia. He highlights telemedicine, patient-led monitoring, and remote surgery as three innovative approaches poised for expansion.
Telemedicine saw huge growth during the COVID-19 pandemic as people have accessed advice, provisional diagnoses and treatment plans through remote appointments with healthcare professionals. Adoption of wearable devices and smart homes enables individuals to self-monitor chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The data is then transmitted electronically to keep healthcare professionals informed—reducing the need for regular consultations. Additionally, remote robot-assisted surgery allows patients to undergo advanced surgical interventions without having to travel long distances.
Thomas McGarrity, director, head of equities in the British Isles at RBC Wealth Management, emphasises the need for efficiency. “Meeting the increased healthcare demand of an ageing population will not only lead to significant growth opportunities for certain areas of healthcare, but also in terms of the efficiency of the whole system, it’s paramount these technological advances really bolster efficiency,” he explains.
Many retirees have the time, money and health to pursue a broad range of leisure activities. Travel, golf, boating, gardening and dining out are all popular. But McGarrity says there’s a growing interest in health and wellbeing, particularly among early retirees who want to stay fit and active.
Sporting goods, physical activity programmes and nutrition are all potential growth areas. So too are beauty products, with an emphasis on anti-ageing and fashion, including eyewear. Devices such as smart hearing aids and eyewear can also improve a person’s enjoyment of entertainment and enhance their safety.
Accommodation is also a growth area. Caroline Osborne and Claudia Baldwin of the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia have shown that seniors have strong views on the environment they prefer to live in. Key themes include houses on single levels, close to shops and facilities, with level walkways for exercise and plenty of open green space.
However, many retirees prefer to stay within their own communities. To meet their needs, companies are also creating ways of upgrading existing housing, transport and community facilities.
Technology is also increasingly helping the elderly to maintain their independence. Home care services involving smart devices and robot assistants can help keep people active, independent and socially connected.
But despite the obvious trajectory of the elderly population, when it comes to meeting the demand for retirement properties in the UK, the numbers are stark. ‘Too little, too late: Housing for an ageing population,’ a report published by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation, found less than three percent of UK homes cater to the retirement market.
The prospect of extended retirements creates a strong incentive to save, particularly in countries where social safety nets are limited. In countries where state pensions absorb an ever-increasing proportion of public finances, governments are encouraging people to save for their own retirements, such as auto-enrolled occupational pension schemes.
As more and more people build up substantial savings pots, there will be a growing demand for retirement planning services. These services are increasingly being delivered through online tools and platform, relying on remote access with little personal contact. This raises concerns that people who lack digital skills may find retirement planning difficult. “There will continue to be a demand for personal relationships in retirement planning,” says Metcalf. “Premium products with a higher level of personal contact are always going to be valued.”
McGarrity expects technology to change how healthcare, leisure and financial services better interact to reduce costs and enhance lives. For example, wearable health monitoring devices could give insurance customers the opportunity to reduce their premiums, and renewed interest in fitness and nutrition feeds into better health, therefore reducing demand on healthcare.
With the help of technology, extended retirements are set to become the norm.
This article was updated in Feb. 2025.
1 Watt, T., Raymond, A., Rachet-Jacquet. L., Head. A., Kypridemos. C., Kelly, E. & Charlesworth, A (2023). Health in 2040: projected patterns of illness in England. The Health Foundation.
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