The Lucky Generation

Our Post-War Elderly Community – the Lucky Generation

Both my parents were born before WWII. They experienced the Blitz in London as children. They both suffered considerable fear and hunger, as well as emotional shock and homesickness, due to their evacuation from London, leaving Mum and Dad behind. To them – even in old age – simple pleasures were regarded as luxuries. They laughed a lot, lived for the day, and drank and smoked in excess with contented abandon!

Members of our community today, born just after World War II (now aged 79), can be seen as the lucky generation. They missed the two World Wars and ten years of the Great Depression (1929 to 1939) endured by their parents and grandparents. They were born just after the Holocaust and atomic bombs being dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. During their lifetimes, from 1946 to the present day, they have seen extraordinary economic, social, and technological changes, with much improved healthcare and welfare.

Compared to those born in 1920, the post-war generation has much improved life expectancy. In 1920, average life expectancy was around 54 years (men) and 55 years (women). By 1946, this increased to 64 and 69 years, respectively.

In 1991, nearly half of women in their 70s were widowed, but by 2016, this had decreased to just 30%. In 2016, the number of women who remained childless at 70 halved since 1990, dropping from 21% to 9%. Such changes are thought to be most likely due to fewer wartime losses and changes in societal norms around marriage and fertility.

Older people are also staying in the workforce longer. Between 1992 and 2017, employment among people aged 70 to 79 doubled, from 4% to 8%. This change is partly due to legislation preventing mandatory retirement, allowing many to continue working longer.

Financially, the Post-War generation is much better-off than their parents, with more people owning their own homes and enjoying greater financial security. This increase in wealth is linked to both a rise in homeownership—due to the "Right to Buy" scheme in the 1980s—and better education, with more and more older people having A-levels or higher qualifications.

Their lifetime also enjoyed an era of peace and innovation. They benefited from the advent of antibiotics, widespread vaccination programs, and advancements in medical research that saved countless lives. Their generation witnessed a revolution in communication—from handwritten letters to instant messaging, and from black-and-white television to streaming services.  As the Post-War generation continues to age, their experiences are shaping future generations, offering a window into how improving healthcare, social norms, and economic policies can dramatically alter the course of aging and quality of life.

This generation stands as a testament to resilience and adaptation, having weathered the turbulence of their parents' past while embracing the progress of a more connected and prosperous world.