Older people feel their lives are getting worse
09 April 2009
Older people feel their lives are getting worse according to a new report entitled "One Voice: Shaping our ageing society", launched to mark the coming together of Age Concern and Help the Aged across the UK.
The report, conducted by ICM in November 2008, examines the issues facing older people across the UK, such as poverty, isolation, problems with care and support and age discrimination.
In Scotland however, although one in four older people, the same as the UK average, believe their quality of life has deteriorated over the past 12 months, only 17 per cent aged 65 and over, as opposed to a UK average of 66 per cent, maintain their lives have not improved in any way in the longer term.
Other key findings in relation to Scotland's older people include:
- 57% as opposed to 68% across the UK believe politicians see older people as a low priority
- only 4% in comparison to 11% at UK level perceive themselves to be always or often lonely
- one out of five Scots aged between 66 and 74 lives below the poverty line - but:
- the same statistic applies to those doing the recommended level of exercise
- 60% believe older people suffer widespread discrimination, including in the workplace, the same as in the rest of the UK
David Manion, Chief Executive of Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland says: "Poverty, neglect, discrimination, loneliness and depression blight the lives of older people across the UK and for the majority of them; evidence shows the situation is getting worse, not better.
"However, there has been a marked difference of approach in Scotland, where successive governments have adopted forward thinking policies and attitudes towards older people are not completely stuck in the past.
"Care and support is better north of the border, the free public transport initiative is making inroads on the issue of isolation and exclusion, free central heating and the Warm Deal programme are addressing fuel poverty and the council tax freeze and slashed prescription charges have helped tackle pensioner poverty.
"Nevertheless, it is vital, especially at this time of economic gloom that politicians at both Westminster and Holyrood, regardless of their political hues, do not shy away from addressing the long term challenges of an ageing society - avoiding the big issues is no longer an option."
The One Voice report has set out a series of priorities for politicians across the UK, but specifically calls on Westminster to:
- roll out the automatic payment of benefits to ensure pensioners have enough money to make ends meet and reduce form filling
- outlaw mandatory retirement ages to ensure equal rights for older citizens
- ‘age-proof' employment and skills support to help older workers cope with the recession
- include spending of an extra £1 - 2 billion across the UK on older people's social care in any fiscal stimulus package
- work towards a UN convention on the rights of older people
David Manion concludes: "2009 has started with uncertainty, but in many ways it could be a year of opportunity for older people across the UK. An imminent general election could help deliver transformational change in their lives - all that's required is the political will to bring this about."
Click here to download the 'One Voice' report.
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