Global Scans · Seniors · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Between 2000 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population aged over 60 will double from about 11 per cent to 22 per cent.

• [New] If efforts at healthy ageing are successful and if informal caregivers and volunteers can help to meet the needs of elders, the total number of frail who need formal services in a community in 2030 could be quite similar to the number in 2000, even though the number of elders will more than double. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] 30% of seniors in Canada are at risk of social isolation. SenCanada
• [New] Sovereign wealth funds dominate with USD 5.6 trillion in assets, projected to reach USD 8.8 trillion by 2030, while central banks and pension funds expand reserves and contributions. MUFG Research
• [New] As the global population shifts elderly, robots might play a crucial role in helping people to grow old with dignity. AOL
• [New] By the end of 2025, crypto ETFs could constitute up to 5% of hedge fund and pension fund portfolios. Aurpay
• [New] The Mansion House Accord, signed by 17 major pension providers in May, is a pledge to allocate at least 10% of portfolios to private markets, half of which will be ringfenced for UK investments. Pensions Expert
• [New] US-based private equity professionals surveyed by Ocorian said they expected new investments to be led by family offices and pension funds. Pensions Expert
• [New] The value of global private markets funds is expected to reach $24trn (£17.9trn) in the next five years amid surging demand from pension funds around the world, an increase of more than 70% on current levels. Pensions Expert
• [New] Creating age-inclusive workplaces will be essential to filling labour shortages and managing an ageing population. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] According to the newly released MetLife's 2025 Pension Risk Transfer Poll, a record 94% of defined benefit (DB) pension plan sponsors with de-risking goals intend to fully divest their pension liabilities with 80% planning to do so within five years. / USA Yahoo Finance
• [New] The UK is moving towards a cashless society, but unless policymakers act carefully, digital payments could make life harder for the elderly, the poor, or anyone left out of the digital revolution, experts have warned. Loughborough University
• [New] AI, automation and robotics could hit 40% of registered nurses, 47% of truck drivers, 64% of accountants, 65% of teaching assistants and 89% of fast food workers, according to Sanders, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labour & Pensions. New York Post
• [New] In the United Kingdom, the state pension age will rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028. unitedrow.org
• [New] Without urgent climate policy interventions, North American pension returns could fall by as much as 50% by 2040, researchers from the risk management firm Ortec Finance warn. In These Times
• [New] Strong consumer demand will drive average seniors housing occupancy rates above 90% by the end of 2026. Connect CRE
• [New] The Compact, which launched under the UK Conservative government in 2023, commits participating DC pensions to the objective of allocating at least 5% of their default funds to unlisted assets by 2030. IPE
• By 2026, longevity technologies will move from niche innovation to mainstream healthcare, adopted in hospitals, clinics, and wellness centers worldwide. null
• As leaders gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, the world is marking the midpoint of the UN's Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). Milken Institute
• Most of Canada's largest pension funds have been assessing climate-related financial risks for years, and many of them have committed to net-zero emissions and developed climate strategies. Shift - Protect Your Pension and the Planet
• US Department of Transport will roll out new nationwide policy for driving license renewal, targeting old age drivers specifically 70 years or above. The News International
• With the anticipated population ageing and growth, annual fractures are projected to increase from 1.9 million to 3.2 million, from 2018 to 2040, with related costs rising from $57 billion to $95 billion. / USA PubMed Central (PMC)
• While England will now tie eligibility to the State Pension age, devolved nations such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will continue to offer free travel from 60. multi codes
• Nine million pensioners in England and Wales with an annual income of £35,000 or less will now be eligible and can expect their payment in the coming weeks. BBC News

Last updated: 15 October 2025