Better prevention, joined-up services and innovative financial solutions so people can live healthier, independent lives for longer.
Jersey is getting older.
That is not a problem to be solved.
It is a gift and a success to be built on.
We are living longer, healthier lives than previous generations. The question is not whether this continues – it will.
The question is: Will Jersey become a place where longer lives are also better lives – for individuals, families, and the island as a whole?
Delivering the Island of Longevity is about answering that question – practically.
The Problem
Three realities are already shaping our future:
• An ageing population, with increasing demand for health and care services
• Rising costs, particularly in healthcare and long-term support
• Untapped potential, in the skills, experience, and contribution of older Islanders
At present, these are often seen as pressures to be managed.
But that is only half the picture.
If we respond only by expanding services, we risk building a system that is:
• increasingly expensive
• increasingly stretched
• and focused on treating problems rather than preventing them
We need a different approach.
A Clear Direction
Longevity is not just a health issue.
It is an economic and social opportunity.
But more than that: Longevity can become the organising principle for how we design the island’s future.
This is not a single policy. It is a system.
Health, care, local businesses, skills, housing, and investment all connect. When they are aligned, they create a reinforcing cycle:
Better health supports economic activity.
Economic activity supports local services and jobs.
Those services and jobs strengthen communities.
And stronger communities support better health in return.
That cycle already exists in Jersey.
The task now is to design it deliberately – and make it work for the whole island.
Three Practical Mechanisms
1. Build a System Around Prevention and Independence
A longevity strategy begins earlier – long before people enter formal care.
This means:
• investing in public health and wellbeing
• supporting active lifestyles across all ages
• identifying risks earlier through primary care, charities, and community services
The goal is simple:
More years lived in good health – not just longer lives with greater dependency.
This reduces pressure on services – and allows people to remain active participants in community and economic life.
2. Enable Home-Based, Technology-Supported Living
The future of care must shift toward the home.
Longevity reinforces that.
This means:
• expanding domiciliary care
• supporting families and informal carers
• using technology to support independence
Including:
• wearable devices
• remote monitoring
• digital coordination of care
This is not about replacing human care.
It is about:
• extending independence
• enabling earlier intervention
• and giving families greater confidence
Over time, this reduces reliance on institutional care – and supports a more sustainable system.
3. Grow a Local Economy Around Longevity — and Keep Value Circulating
An ageing population is not just a cost.
It is also a source of demand – for:
• health and wellbeing services
• adapted housing
• technology-enabled care
• community-based support
This demand can be met locally.
And when it is:
More economic value stays in Jersey – circulating through businesses, employment, and communities rather than leaving the island.
We should:
• support local businesses in these sectors
• align skills and training with emerging needs
• connect investment (including through a Jersey Bank) to these opportunities
This creates a reinforcing effect:
• better services
• more local jobs
• stronger communities
• and improved long-term resilience
Further Measures
Alongside these core changes, we should also:
• Align housing policy with longevity, including homes that support independence
• Ensure workforce planning reflects the growth of care and wellbeing sectors
• Use the Health and Social Care Jersey Partnership Board to coordinate system-wide change
• Support collaboration between government, local businesses, charities, and the finance sector
• Enable innovation that strengthens both health outcomes and local economic activity
This is about ensuring that every part of the system is contributing to the same goal.
Closing
Longevity is one of Jersey’s greatest opportunities.
But it will only feel like an opportunity if we design for it – as a system.
If we do not:
• costs will rise
• pressure will increase
• and the system will struggle to keep up
If we do:
• people live better for longer
• communities become stronger
• and more of the island’s wealth stays and circulates within it
This is the kind of practical reform I will argue for – not seeing ageing as a burden, but using it to build a stronger, more resilient island.
And I would genuinely welcome your view:
What would help people in Jersey live well for longer?
Contact me on bernardplace2026.com or bernardplace2026@gmail.com
