Future of an Ageing Population

3.1 Lifelong learning to enhance mental capital and health
The previous chapter discussed the benefits that work-related training can
bring people throughout their careers. This is just one of the important ways
that continuing to learn throughout life can improve the ageing population’s
quality of life and health in the future.
Mental capital is an important concept. Mental capital encompasses cognitive
ability, flexibility and efficiency when learning, social skills and resilience.
Higher levels of mental capital can help mitigate cognitive decline associated
with old age. People with high levels of mental capital are more likely to
remain independent for longer, require less support, and be better equipped
to respond to change 59 . Mental capital grows during youth, plateaus in middle
age, and declines as people get older 39 .The period between five and twelve
years of age is a crucial phase in acquiring mental capital 59 and changes to
childhood and adolescent education could impact on mental capital later
in life. Those reaching 65 in 2025 and 2040 (today’s 50 and 35 year olds)
have predominantly left formal education, but their mental capital can still
be improved. Learning, which can boost mental capital at any age, is one of a
range of factors to determine this trajectory. Lifelong learning helps people to
make informed choices about their lives, particularly during periods of crisis
and transition 60 . During adulthood, mental capital is protected by good health
(nutrition, exercise, avoidance of alcohol and drug abuse), and the updating
and enhancement of skills, which improves memory, reasoning and attention
and how people cope with adversity 59 .
There are many different types of learning which confer varying benefits.
Accredited learning (resulting in a qualification) has a positive effect on men’s
perception of self-efficacy 61 . Work-related non-accredited training can have
a positive impact both on life satisfaction 62 and on self-efficacy for men and
women, while leisure or interest-related learning can increase life satisfaction
and decrease depression in women 63 . Figure 3.1 indicates the range of
motivations for work-related learning.
It is now widely accepted that mental activity has a similar impact on health
and wellbeing as physical activity. Both accredited and non-accredited learning
have direct impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of the population across
all age groups 59 . The anticipated increase in demand for community resources
and services and older people’s greater risk of isolation and loneliness (see
Chapter 6), makes this particularly relevant to the ageing population. Active,
healthy and well-informed adults are less likely to place demands on family
and community resources and services 57 . However certain target groups
– for example older men – often shun clubs catering specifically for older
people 64 . Men’s Sheds, an Australian initiative, provides a shared space for
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