A recent manifesto from the Ready for Ageing Alliance has called on policymakers in Government and beyond to start engaging seriously with the trend towards longer lives, which is fundamentally changing our country and our world.
The Alliance highlights that the UK’s demography is changing significantly and quickly: by 2030 there will be 101% more people aged 85 and over in England and 51% more aged 65 and over, compared to 2010. Around one in three of all babies born in 2013 are expected to celebrate their 100th birthday. By the time of the next election, there will be 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK. This will rise to over one million by 2051
The manifesto sets out detailed recommendations for public policy covering housing; health & social care; the economy and communities and calls for Government to take the lead, with a single point of contact at Cabinet level, responsible for age and ageing policy.
It also targets some big 'policy own goals' that sees us as a country currently hurtling in the wrong direction in terms of getting ready for ageing. For example, it says we must:
- Stop seeing ageing as being just about older people - if we wait until we are 60 or 70 to prepare we'll have left it too late.
- End age discrimination – legislation has gone some way to preventing discrimination on grounds of age but bizarrely financial services are exempt and hidden discrimination remains in many walks of life.
- Stop operating hospitals on a model designed for the past – staff/patient ratios on hospital wards for older patients are often lower than on general wards, yet older people often need more help - e.g. to eat and drink.
- Stop undervaluing the over 65s, who currently spend a massive £2.2 billion a week and contribute £61billion to the economy through employment, caring and volunteering.
- Stop ignoring the fact that many older workers are forced to leave the labour market early. Start building more flexible work opportunities to make it possible for family members of all ages juggle work and care for older relatives.
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