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OLDER PEOPLE’S LIVES ARE GETTING WORSE
WHILE The
Zimmers take the world by storm, 28%of older people admit their
lives have got worse in the last 12 months according to a landmark
report by leading older people’s charity Help the Aged. The
equivalent of 2.66 million UK pensioners, roughly the total
population of Lancashire and Merseyside, said their general quality
of life had worsened while a staggering 93% of older people thought
their lives had not improved.
Pensioners make up 1 in 5 people in the North West. Spotlight on
older people in the UK, the 2nd annual report from Help the Aged,
brings to light the issues faced by vulnerable older people:
poverty; neglect; ageism; isolation and future deprivation. After
tracking progress on the issues, the Charity is challenging the
Government to remedy the long-term neglect of older people, starting
by making changes to the law to put older people on an equal footing
with the rest of society.
The report highlights that:
* 73% of adults in Great Britain agree age discrimination exists in
the everyday lives of older people
* 47% of pensioners in Great Britain fail to claim Council Tax
benefit and 1 in 3 pensioners on the lowest incomes are spending
more than 10% of their income on council tax
* 21% of older people are living in poverty. If the number of UK
pensioners living in poverty lived in one area they would replace
the entire population of Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall
* 13% of older people are often or always lonely – this has risen
from 8% in the last year and is roughly the total population of
Leeds and Bradford
Kate Adams, Help the Aged Territory Director for the North, says:-
“Far from being people’s twilight years, this report shows the
reality of growing older in the UK is much darker. It is absolutely
outrageous that people’s lives are getting worse or not improving as
they get older. Our SeniorLink and Handy Van services in the
North West provide enormous peace of mind for older people, enabling
them to live more independently in their homes for longer. The
number of people aged 65 years and over is expected to rise by
nearly 60% in the next 25 years. There is no excuse for anyone,
least of all the Government, to be oblivious to the issues facing
older people. If steps are not taken to enable people to carry
on working and saving, to improve public health, and to ensure that
adequate social care is available for those who need it, growing
numbers of people will be blighted by disadvantage in older age.
With so many older people already leading unfulfilled lives, there
is no time to lose.”
Help the Aged is calling for:-
* a clear commitment to ending pensioner poverty once and for all
and robust targets to achieve this
* a new Government strategy of paying benefits automatically to
older people on the basis of information it already holds on them
* public bodies to promote age equality in the same way they are
required to promote race, disability and gender equality
* a ban on age discrimination extending beyond the workplace in the
forthcoming Single Equalities Bill
* a greater focus on health, more opportunities for activity and
employment and better planning for the future |
1
IN 10 TOO POOR TO PAY FOR FOOD
1 in 10 people in the
North West have gone without food because they didn’t have enough
money, according to a survey by leading children’s charity NCH and
Barclays. The survey’s findings are launched with a ‘Top 10
Tips’ pocket guide to help families and young people on low
incomes avoid debt and better manage their money as part of ‘Financial
Futures’ a 3 year initiative between NCH and Barclays. The
results also reveal that 10% from the area had missed a rent
payment, and despite 35% being in debt currently, only 31% of people
understand financial terminology such as APR (annual percentage
rate).
Michelle Dewberry, business woman and winner of last year’s
‘Apprentice,’ said:- “The key to being in control of your
finances is having the knowledge to understand them. Once you can
understand your finances, you can make them work for you.
That's why these top tips and the Financial Futures partnership are
so important. Whatever your age, or amount you earn, taking the time
to learn more about your finances will empower you to take matters
into your own hands and before you know it, managing your money will
be a far less frightening prospect."
Paul Moore, NCH Director of Children’s Services in the North West,
said:- “Although these figures indicate a far bigger problem
of poverty in the UK, there is no underestimating the devastating
impact bad financial management can have on families’ lives.
For those who struggle to make ends meet, knowing how to manage
money effectively can mean the difference between being able to
provide food or medicine for your family or having to go without.
There is still much more to be done to help people on low incomes
get to grips with their finances, and hopefully these tips will be a
great start.”
Rachel Herbinson, Barclays Community Relations Manager for the North
West, said:- "By gaining an understanding of the financial
terms and processes that impact our daily lives, young people and
families can regain control of their own finances and avoid making
the impossible choice of deciding to go without food, rent or
medicine. The new pocket guide is a first step in helping some
of the most deprived people in the country learn how to maximise
their income and prioritise their budget, a process that is
reinforced at the Financial Futures workshops that we have funded
that are taking place throughout the UK."
For a free copy of the ‘Financial Futures Top Ten Tips’ pocket guide
go to
www.nch.org.uk/toptips or call
NCH Supporter helpline on 08457 626579 (calls charged at local rate,
open 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday).
The ‘Financial Futures Top Ten Tips’ are part of a 3 year
Ł1.8 million partnership between Barclays and NCH to help families
and young people on low incomes better manage their money.
Over the next 3 years, Financial Futures will provide 1-to-1 advice
and workshops on topics including budgeting and access to benefits
at 18 locations around the country. Over 1000 Barclays volunteers
are expected to take part in the initiative.
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