This is the fourth publication in our series on the needs and circumstances of older people in Northern Ireland. In this report we focus on persons in the 50-64 years age group. There are various reasons for paying special attention to this particular generation of adults. As we demonstrate below, recent research has indicated that persons in this age group stand out in their attitudes on various issues - to such a degree that the authors of the research labelled them “ the angry generation” (Evason and Dowds, 2004). Other work has described this group as “the pivot generation” (Mooney and Statham, 2002).

What lies behind these terms is a sense that this is a generation under pressure. It is this generation that has seen the transformation of the worlds of work and welfare - and the growth of insecurity - that has occurred over the last 25 years. People in this age group may feel under strain: caring for their parents; helping their children and grandchildren, and perhaps worrying about the implications for themselves of the general crisis surrounding pensions in the United Kingdom. Whilst we cannot address all of the issues we would like to from the data available, in the following paragraphs we look at the kinds and extent of difficulties persons in this age group may face.