This briefing paper looks at the implications of private renting increasingly becoming a permanent form of tenure, as well as the position of the several hundred thousand older private tenants today. It reviews a selection of Age UK casework on private renting, collected between 2013 and 2016. It describes the experiences of some older private tenants and those who support and care for them, to ask how well private renting really works for older people and what needs to change if the sector is to achieve a better fit with older people’s needs and aspirations. The main issues highlighted by the case studies in this report include: a failure to carry out timely repairs with potentially serious health implications for vulnerable older people; older tenants in damp and mouldy homes, exacerbating chronic health conditions; unexpected rent increases after a landlord has made improvements to their property and unaffordable rents affected by restrictions in housing benefit; older tenants who are getting no other support having to rely on families and even neighbours to take up issues on their behalf. The report calls for: action to enforce the law and support older tenants; ensuring privately rented properties are comfortable, warm and accessible; informing older people about their housing options and improving the availability to them of good advice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This briefing paper looks at the implications of private renting increasingly becoming a permanent form of tenure, as well as the position of the several hundred thousand older private tenants today. It reviews a selection of Age UK casework on private renting, collected between 2013 and 2016. It describes the experiences of some older private tenants and those who support and care for them, to ask how well private renting really works for older people and what needs to change if the sector is to achieve a better fit with older people’s needs and aspirations. The main issues highlighted by the case studies in this report include: a failure to carry out timely repairs with potentially serious health implications for vulnerable older people; older tenants in damp and mouldy homes, exacerbating chronic health conditions; unexpected rent increases after a landlord has made improvements to their property and unaffordable rents affected by restrictions in housing benefit; older tenants who are getting no other support having to rely on families and even neighbours to take up issues on their behalf. The report calls for: action to enforce the law and support older tenants; ensuring privately rented properties are comfortable, warm and accessible; informing older people about their housing options and improving the availability to them of good advice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report summarises the second symposium of the WEF Global Agenda Council on Ageing on the implications of ageing and cognitive decline for financial services, which was hosted by Age UK in London, 3-4 February 2016. The presentations, panel discussions and workshops covered: the particular challenges and opportunities of Japan’s ageing society; cognitive vulnerability and resilience in later life; how ageing and dementia affect the capacity to manage money; challenges and opportunities for financial services; building resilience and reducing risk; changing technologies in financial services: opportunity or threat for people with cognitive decline; financial planning for an uncertain future; and how people living with cognitive decline can remain financially included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report summarises the second symposium of the WEF Global Agenda Council on Ageing on the implications of ageing and cognitive decline for financial services, which was hosted by Age UK in London, 3-4 February 2016. The presentations, panel discussions and workshops covered: the particular challenges and opportunities of Japan’s ageing society; cognitive vulnerability and resilience in later life; how ageing and dementia affect the capacity to manage money; challenges and opportunities for financial services; building resilience and reducing risk; changing technologies in financial services: opportunity or threat for people with cognitive decline; financial planning for an uncertain future; and how people living with cognitive decline can remain financially included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
ageing, older people, financial abuse, personal finance, cognitive impairment;
Updated version of a guide to help people to stay physically and mentally well as they age by providing advice on how to keep fit and independent. The guide is particularly relevant for people aged around 70 years or older who are beginning to find that everyday tasks now take them longer to do and may be experiencing from mild frailty. The evidence base for the topics in the guide is based on a systematic review of 78 longitudinal observational studies that collectively identified 11 principal risk factors associated with functional decline in older people living at home. The contents cover: looking after your feet, preventing falls, looking after your eyes, vaccinations, making your home safe, keeping warm, keeping active, getting ready for winter, medicines review, bladder and bowel problems, hearing tests, eating and drinking well, caring and looking after yourself, looking after your mental health, looking after your mouth, and looking after your brain. The guide has also been tested using focus groups and in depth interviews. It aims to contribute to supporting people to stay well for longer and improve the quality of life of people and their carers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Updated version of a guide to help people to stay physically and mentally well as they age by providing advice on how to keep fit and independent. The guide is particularly relevant for people aged around 70 years or older who are beginning to find that everyday tasks now take them longer to do and may be experiencing from mild frailty. The evidence base for the topics in the guide is based on a systematic review of 78 longitudinal observational studies that collectively identified 11 principal risk factors associated with functional decline in older people living at home. The contents cover: looking after your feet, preventing falls, looking after your eyes, vaccinations, making your home safe, keeping warm, keeping active, getting ready for winter, medicines review, bladder and bowel problems, hearing tests, eating and drinking well, caring and looking after yourself, looking after your mental health, looking after your mouth, and looking after your brain. The guide has also been tested using focus groups and in depth interviews. It aims to contribute to supporting people to stay well for longer and improve the quality of life of people and their carers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
ageing, older people, health, self care, mental health, long term conditions;
... in both lifespans and the different experiences of later life. This report details Age UK’s annual audit of the way public policy is shaping later life. The organisation stands up for almost 14 million people in the UK who have now reached later life, but also to speak for the long-term interests of every one, so that experiences of ageing grow better for each passing generation. The report focuses mainly on the way national Government and the wider public sector impact on our lives as we age. But positive experiences of ageing are just as dependent on our interactions with the private sector; with our lives as consumers of retail businesses, leisure, technology and financial services.
The barriers older people face tend to be greatest in terms of money, isolation, marginalisation, and their health and care needs. But prevention is better than cure, so we are also anxious to improve life for today’s older people – the cohort with both the greatest wealth and widest inequalities in our history. The trend to increased inequalities has continued bringing about huge variations in both lifespans and the different experiences of later life. This report details Age UK’s annual audit of the way public policy is shaping later life. The organisation stands up for almost 14 million people in the UK who have now reached later life, but also to speak for the long-term interests of every one, so that experiences of ageing grow better for each passing generation. The report focuses mainly on the way national Government and the wider public sector impact on our lives as we age. But positive experiences of ageing are just as dependent on our interactions with the private sector; with our lives as consumers of retail businesses, leisure, technology and financial services.
Subject terms:
older people, public sector, social exclusion, social policy, ageing, health care;
A tool to support local discussions in communities about the importance of age friendly places and the need to develop communities to help people to live and age well. Age friendly places are essential for an ageing population as the immediate environment can have a significant impact on our health, wellbeing and quality of life. It suggests five themes which local communities should address to unlock the potential of their ageing population. These are: for everyone in later life to be able to enjoy life and feel well; active communities which enable all people to be active and participate in their community; for everyone to have enough money to live well in later life; appropriate housing to ensure that everyone in later life feels comfortable, safe and secure at home; and for everyone
(Edited publisher abstract)
A tool to support local discussions in communities about the importance of age friendly places and the need to develop communities to help people to live and age well. Age friendly places are essential for an ageing population as the immediate environment can have a significant impact on our health, wellbeing and quality of life. It suggests five themes which local communities should address to unlock the potential of their ageing population. These are: for everyone in later life to be able to enjoy life and feel well; active communities which enable all people to be active and participate in their community; for everyone to have enough money to live well in later life; appropriate housing to ensure that everyone in later life feels comfortable, safe and secure at home; and for everyone to be able to access quality health and care. For each theme the document explains why it is important, outlines what Age Friendly Places should deliver to achieve this aim, and provides a short example of successful practice.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
ageing, older people, communities, case studies, good practice, quality of life, neighbourhoods, wellbeing;
Drawing on an analysis of the literature and available data, and discussions with carers aged 50 and over, this report looks at the challenges older people face when combining work and caring. It highlights the barriers they face in the workplace and the compromises they have to make in their own working lives, such as turning down promotion. It also examines the negative impact on carers' forced to leave the labour market due to their caring responsibilities. This can include financial disadvantage and poorer health and wellbeing. It estimates that caring as little as five hours a week can have a significant impact on employment prospects, with those caring for more than 10 hours a week at marked risk of leaving the labour market altogether. The report then presents some possible solutions to help retain older carers in the workplace, and includes practice examples from a range of organisations. Case studies and quotations from focus groups and discussions held with carers are also included throughout. The report then sets out a series of recommendations for employers, Government and others to help carers remain in the workplace. These include: improving access to flexible working; increasing awareness of the challenges carers face within the workplace, particularly among managers; supporting carers through times of transition and in emergencies; improving access to care services; and improving financial support for carers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Drawing on an analysis of the literature and available data, and discussions with carers aged 50 and over, this report looks at the challenges older people face when combining work and caring. It highlights the barriers they face in the workplace and the compromises they have to make in their own working lives, such as turning down promotion. It also examines the negative impact on carers' forced to leave the labour market due to their caring responsibilities. This can include financial disadvantage and poorer health and wellbeing. It estimates that caring as little as five hours a week can have a significant impact on employment prospects, with those caring for more than 10 hours a week at marked risk of leaving the labour market altogether. The report then presents some possible solutions to help retain older carers in the workplace, and includes practice examples from a range of organisations. Case studies and quotations from focus groups and discussions held with carers are also included throughout. The report then sets out a series of recommendations for employers, Government and others to help carers remain in the workplace. These include: improving access to flexible working; increasing awareness of the challenges carers face within the workplace, particularly among managers; supporting carers through times of transition and in emergencies; improving access to care services; and improving financial support for carers.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, employment, carers, ageing, user views, case studies, adults, access to services, conditions of employment;
Examines the implications of sight loss in an ageing society for public policy and the provision of services and support, drawing on the learning from a seminar, jointly held by Age UK and RNIB in June 2015, and the latest research evidence and current policy landscape. Almost two million people in the UK have significant sight loss. They are predominantly older people and, given the demographic at diagnosis and beyond; improve access to peer support and emotional support; and be ready for ageing and sight loss.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Examines the implications of sight loss in an ageing society for public policy and the provision of services and support, drawing on the learning from a seminar, jointly held by Age UK and RNIB in June 2015, and the latest research evidence and current policy landscape. Almost two million people in the UK have significant sight loss. They are predominantly older people and, given the demographic changes, these numbers are set to increase. The seminar highlighted that that when people experiencing sight loss succeed in finding the right advice and support, this can have a transformative impact on their lives. However, at present there is no universal safety net or signposting to services. Such advice and support is usually provided by voluntary and community groups and organisations, whose funding is often fragile and whose outreach capacity is inevitably constrained. The report puts forwards recommendations to respond to the new challenges, including: empower older people to manage their eye health; involve older people in the co-production of services and policy; improve professional awareness to better meet the needs of older people with sight loss; improve access to support at diagnosis and beyond; improve access to peer support and emotional support; and be ready for ageing and sight loss.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
visual impairment, older people, ageing, self care, co-production, staff development, access to services, peer support;
Sets out Age UK's ambition for the next Parliament 2015-2020, advocating the development of key services, interventions and government policies to support the UK ageing population and outlining what the political parties need to focus on immediately. The key themes considered in this manifesto include: older people and wellbeing; safety at home; financial independence in later life; active
(Edited publisher abstract)
Sets out Age UK's ambition for the next Parliament 2015-2020, advocating the development of key services, interventions and government policies to support the UK ageing population and outlining what the political parties need to focus on immediately. The key themes considered in this manifesto include: older people and wellbeing; safety at home; financial independence in later life; active communities; and quality health and care.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, ageing, government policy, wellbeing, home safety, income, communities, participation, health care, social care;
This guide provides information for lesbian, gay and bisexual people on planning for later life. It consists of 22 short sections covering a different topic, with each providing details of where to go to find further information. Areas covered include: partnership rights, older same-sex couples and benefits, pensions for same sex couples, inheritance and wills, care services at home, direct payments, housing and residential care, registering a death and bereavement. A list of organisations providing further information and advice is also included. The information is relevant across the UK and an indication is given where information differs for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This guide provides information for lesbian, gay and bisexual people on planning for later life. It consists of 22 short sections covering a different topic, with each providing details of where to go to find further information. Areas covered include: partnership rights, older same-sex couples and benefits, pensions for same sex couples, inheritance and wills, care services at home, direct payments, housing and residential care, registering a death and bereavement. A list of organisations providing further information and advice is also included. The information is relevant across the UK and an indication is given where information differs for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This paper presents the results of an investigation into the care system in England. It looks at the increase in spending on older people's care and at the increasing number of older people who are likely to need care in the future. In addition, private and public spending currently falls short of the amount of care and support people need, with many people doing without. The current funding crisis mean many older people have unmet need, they face tougher eligibility rules for social care and variable level of support across the country. In order to better provide for older people's social care needs, the paper outlines ten principles for designing a new care system and what this new system would cost. It then provides a menu of possible options for raising this extra money and support. The paper also propose a process of regular independent reviews to look at the amount of resources needed to meet needs.
This paper presents the results of an investigation into the care system in England. It looks at the increase in spending on older people's care and at the increasing number of older people who are likely to need care in the future. In addition, private and public spending currently falls short of the amount of care and support people need, with many people doing without. The current funding crisis mean many older people have unmet need, they face tougher eligibility rules for social care and variable level of support across the country. In order to better provide for older people's social care needs, the paper outlines ten principles for designing a new care system and what this new system would cost. It then provides a menu of possible options for raising this extra money and support. The paper also propose a process of regular independent reviews to look at the amount of resources needed to meet needs.
Subject terms:
long term care, older people, policy formulation, social care provision, unmet need, ageing, care homes, costs, financing;