Search results for ‘Subject term:"older people"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
The forgotten age: understanding poverty and social exclusion in later life
- Authors:
- MCKEE Sara, (chair)
- Publisher:
- Centre for Social Justice
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 251p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
In this interim report the Centre for Social Justice Older Age Working Group presents an analysis of the nature and scale of the challenge the government faces in tackling poverty and social exclusion among older people in the UK. The review included analysis of statistics, gathered evidence from a range of stakeholders, and commissioned internet-based public polling. It identified several key indicators concerning the poorest older people in society which are used as core report themes. These are: money (including pensioner poverty, impact of the recession, the state pension and state benefits, and fuel poverty), community and lifestyle (including community and neighbourhoods, crime, transport, health, volunteering and digital exclusion), housing (including housing standards, design, adaptation and improvement, sheltered and retirement housing, and old age homelessness), and care (including social care, unpaid care, state provision of care, care at home, and care homes). The Working Group's second and final report, to be published in 2011, will set out a range of policy recommendations based on this analysis.
Healthy ageing in the 21st century: the best is yet to come
- Authors:
- BIRMINGHAM POLICY COMMISSIONS. III. Healthy Ageing in the 21st Century, FIELD Steve, (chair)
- Publisher:
- University of Birmingham
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- Birmingham
In 2011, the University of Birmingham launched a policy commission on healthy ageing, to explore different expectations for flourishing in later life, and how good health in later life can be promoted. This report has been published just as the Care Bill 2013/14 reaches its final stages in the House of Lord; and it urges policy-makers to “recognise and accommodate super-diversity when planning services for an ageing population. It presents seven key findings. First, the experience of ageing is complex, and only loosely associated with how old someone is. Second, different cultures think about ageing in different ways, yet our society does not fully understand these differences. Third, health inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage are also found in the older population. Fourth, enabling people to experience healthy ageing is a long-term project, which needs to be planned carefully. Fifth, older people want control and independence, but this can be in tension with their need for security, care and support. Sixth, technological support for older people can contribute to healthy ageing, if the support is sensitively developed and applied. Lastly, older people make a huge contribution to society. Some communities and faith groups draw on this contribution in responding to the needs of all their members. Sharing this good practice presents a real opportunity for communities of all kinds. The report discusses seven recommendations for healthy ageing in the UK’s 21st century super-diverse society. First, when planning services for an ageing population in the UK, cultural sensitivity should be a vital component. Second, the human rights of older people should be at the heart of health and social care policy. Third, a new statutory post of Commissioner for Older People should be created in England. Fourth, reciprocal relationships that bolster healthy ageing should be central to future care and support arrangements. Fifth, policy makers need to design policies that harness people’s instinctive behaviours to work towards, rather than against, healthy ageing. Sixth, more effort is needed to give older people a louder voice in respect of their environment and local community. Lastly, ageing in a super-diverse society is a major challenge that society does not yet fully understand; and Research Councils and other research commissioning bodies should prioritise gaining a better understanding. (Edited publisher abstract)