Extra time: Finding the key to healthier ageing

Humans have always been fascinated by the idea of living longer and have tended to assume the solutions lie with science. But, as City academics are finding, the answers may be rather more wholesome. Community, sport and housing can play life-changing roles in increasing our longevity.

A great many of you might credit your university years as being the best time of your lives, with friends and shared experiences playing a crucial role in those halcyon days. But, as we grow older and reach the later stages of life, sometimes that sense of community gets lost along the way.

According to Age UK, 1.4 million older people in the UK are often lonely. Loneliness is a major issue that is broadly recognised in British society today.

Humans are social beings, and it is widely understood that interactions with friends and family have a major impact on our wellbeing. But we are only just beginning to understand the true benefits of being part of a group, and the detrimental effect of loneliness on length of life.

New research from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) demonstrates the power of community. In a remarkable key finding, the researchers showed that the increased quality of life that comes from having a social group can add years to a person’s life.

The research team – led by Professor Ben Rickayzen – looked at almshouses, which provide affordable community housing for local people in need. Typically designed around a courtyard, almshouses provide a ‘community spirit’ – independent living but with the benefits of friendship and support when needed.

Analysing up to 100 years’ worth of residents’ records from almshouses in England, the research suggests that living in these communities can reduce the negative impact on health and social wellbeing which is commonly experienced by the older population in lower socioeconomic groups, particularly those individuals living in isolation.

The results are enormously encouraging. They show that living in an almshouse can boost the longevity of its residents by as much as two-and-a-half years compared to their counterparts in the general population.

For several almshouses included in the study, residents can expect to live as long as wealthier members of the general population, despite coming from the most deprived socioeconomic quintile.

This shows that the disparity in longevity and health outcomes could be mitigated even after reaching retirement age, provided a suitable social infrastructure can be put in place.

Professor Rickayzen added: “We would encourage the Government to invest in retirement communities, such as almshouses, which would be in keeping with their overarching levelling up agenda. While this agenda is commonly associated with enhancing equality on a regional basis, it is important that levelling up should also aim to combat health inequalities experienced by people from lower socioeconomic groups across the country.”