Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
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Public policy and the ageing workforce in the United States
- Author:
- RIX Patricia
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 3(2), April 2004, pp.171-179.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Despite an ageing work force and the impending retirement of millions of baby boomers that could lead to serious labour, skills, and occupational shortages, older workers are not high on the policy agenda in the United States. Nonetheless, labour force participation rates for the older population have been rising, and public opinion polls reveal a sizeable demand for post-retirement employment. The challenge lies in meeting that demand and fostering longer worklives on the part of even more older Americans. A substantial public policy response is by no means certain, although raising the retirement age is likely to feature prominently in the debate on Social Security reform.
Independent living in later life
- Authors:
- PARRY Jane, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 142p.
- Place of publication:
- Leeds
This qualitative research study was designed to explore factors influencing older people’s perceptions and experiences of independent living in later life. The research also tested the assumptions underpinning the DWP’s customer segmentation model for today’s pensioners. This research was commissioned to help further DWP’s understanding of what independence means to older people. The findings are being used to inform the delivery of its services to older people.
Independent living in later life: research summary
- Authors:
- PARRY Jane, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 4p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This qualitative research study was designed to explore factors influencing older people’s perceptions and experiences of independent living in later life. The research also tested the assumptions underpinning the DWP’s customer segmentation model for today’s pensioners. This research was commissioned to help further DWP’s understanding of what independence means to older people. The findings are being used to inform the delivery of its services to older people.
Welfare to work: tackling the barriers to the employment of older people
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. National Audit Office
- Publisher:
- Stationery Office
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 70p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report examines the progress that has been made in helping older people overcome the barriers to employment. These barriers include relatively low levels of skills, age discrimination by some employers, health problems, low confidence and negative attitudes to employment. The report underlines the importance of joint working between government, employers and the voluntary sector at a local level, as well as the need for better publicity to improve awareness of local services to help improve employment prospects. The NAO found that the scheme specifically for older workers - New Deal 50 Plus - has helped more than 120,000 people into work at an estimated cost of 270 million, although an unknown number of these people would have found jobs anyway. Other employment and training programmes (in particular, the New Deal 25 Plus and Work Based Learning for Adults) have helped a further 70,000 older people into work over the last five years. Jobcentre Plus is increasing the flexibility within its programmes in order to better meet the individual needs of people facing acute or multiple barriers to work. This includes piloting new approaches to help people claiming incapacity benefits return to work. Older people still have relatively low levels of participation in most forms of training and education, which they need to compete more effectively in the labour market. They are also under-represented in their use of Information, Advice and Guidance Partnerships, which are a valuable source of help for people who are out of work. The report also identifies age discrimination on the part of some employers as an ongoing and significant problem. Legislation to outlaw such discrimination is expected in October 2006 but there has been a delay in issuing for consultation the draft regulations. However the Government has announced a national guidance campaign in advance of the legislation to further enable employers to adopt age positive employment practices and to encourage the recruitment, training and retention of older workers.
Improving care of older people through intermediate services
- Author:
- NEGUS Jennie
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 13.07.04, 2004, pp.34-36.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
Reports on two innovative approaches to providing intermediate care for older people. Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has developed one post that addresses the needs of informal carers, and another that ensures older people who need help with their finances are able to access expert advice and support.
Retirement realities: shocked and struggling; attitudes of older consumers to financial choices in retirement
- Author:
- GAY Meg
- Publisher:
- National Consumer Council
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 12p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Reveals that many people entering retirement feel let down and disillusioned by the state pension. Those who tried to save extra for their retirement feel powerless because their pensions and investments haven’t lived up to their promises. Only those lucky enough to have a final-salary pension feel really confident about their future. The answer to this depressing state of affairs, says the report, is to give everyone the right to a basic state ‘citizen’ pension, so they can be sure of an adequate, secure and simple base for their retirement finances. Current rules are outdated, complex and unfair - and fail those who need the security of the state pension most.
Poverty and low income: tackling the under-claiming of welfare benefits for older people
- Author:
- DAVEY Lynne
- Journal article citation:
- Housing Care and Support, 7(2), June 2004, pp.32-35.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The challenge of poverty and low income is a key issue for organisations concerned with groups of the population at risk of social exclusion. In particular, poorer, older people who quality for benefits remain the largest group most likely not to claim these benefits. Housing 21, which provides housing, care and support services for older people in England, encourages its residents to claim their full entitlement of benefits by offering advice and support from its two welfare benefit managers. This article highlights how their work has really made a difference to the lives of older people and suggests what needs to be done.
Living longer: ageing, development and social protection
- Editor:
- LLOYD-SHERLOCK Peter
- Publisher:
- Zed Books
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 308p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This book examines relationships between the well-being of older people and processes of development, taking examples from diverse range of low-, middle- and high-income countries. A key message is the danger of generalisation: either about later life or development experiences. Older people are an extremely heterogeneous group, with varying needs, capabilities and expectations. The book is divided into three sections. The first explores the wellbeing of older people in selected, very different development contexts — the UK, Brazil, Ukraine and China. The second section focuses on formal social protection for older people. It includes evaluations of pension schemes in four middle-income countries, an assessment of Japan’s new long-term care insurance fund, and a comparison of health care financing for pensioners in the USA and Argentina. The third section considers informal social protection and the care economy. This is explored with reference to intergenerational relationships in Ghana, informal care in Mexico, the impact of HIV/AIDS on older people in Thailand, and a wider philosophical discussion of care and social justice.
Beyond crisis and dissonance : the restructuring of the Japanese welfare state under globalisation
- Author:
- TAKAHASHI Mutsuko
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 3(3), July 2004, pp.283-290.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The crisis and dissonance in a society under globalisation tend to be associated with suspicion against the welfare state. This article however attempts to argue for the crucial role of the welfare state in the formation of the politics of welfare that shapes a basic framework for a policy response to changes in the welfare society. The discussion sets out by illustrating the impacts of globalisation in contemporary Japan with special reference to the change in family and working practices. It goes on to analyse the current policy debates regarding socialisation of care in which ideological conflicts are manifested. Despite growing vulnerability of the family in Japan's ageing society, informal care-giving work tends to be undervalued and the stigma attached to the welfare state regarding elderly care and public assistance is persistent. It will be discussed how the long-run welfare reforms, as efforts of policy change, can be made sense of in Japan for escaping from a vicious circle of crisis and dissonance.
The economy and older people
- Author:
- AGE CONCERN
- Publisher:
- Age Concern
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 52p.
- Place of publication:
- London
In 2003 there were 20 million people over 50; by 2021 this will rise to almost 25 million. As well as shaping markets and public services older people contribute to the British economy, as unpaid and paid workers. Current Government policies for supporting older people make economic contributions include: forthcoming age discrimination legislation; amendments to the pensions system; Welfare to Work programmes for older and disabled workers; new entitlements to free education; and improved support for carers.