Archive: Older People

MPs lash out after council tries to scrap the chequebook

Plans to replace cheques by 2018 were abandoned

MPs are looking to curb the influence of the Payments Council following the recent dispute over the replacement of cheques.

Call to scrap retirement age

Commission to explore barriers to council diversity

Lyons review: Make council tax fairer

Opinion Former Articles

ESRC: Older people are happier in Brazil and South Africa

Contrary to belief, older people in South Africa and Brazil become happier as they age. New research suggests that, with the right policies in place, a developing country can significantly improve the wellbeing of its older citizens.

ESRC: Dignity counts when caring for older people

Older people feel that their health problems pose a challenge to their sense of independence, dignity and identity and sometimes the health care they are given makes things worse.

RCP gives evidence on dignity in care for older people

Dr Linda Patterson, RCP clinical vice president, will give oral evidence to the Commission on improving dignity in care for older people tomorrow between 11.45 am and 12.45 pm at Age UK Headquarters, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9NA.The Commission is being held by the NHS Confederation, Local Government Group and Age UK. Other witnesses in the same evidence session include Janet Davies, RCN Director of Nursing and Service Delivery and Dr Helena McKeown, BMA Head of Career Doctors and Independent Medical Services.

ESRC: Social exclusion among shift workers and older people

Older people and those who work non-standard hours are less likely to feel integrated into society, according to a study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Call to scrap retirement age

Older people have role in workplace, EHRC says

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called for the state retirement age to be scrapped as part of "radical change" helping older people keep working.

'Scandalous' lack of care home places

The number of homes equipped to care for dementia sufferers - and places in those homes - are falling dramatically, according to figures uncovered by the Conservatives.

Energy prices could fuel winter death rate

There are fears for elderly people during the winter

Concerns have been raised about the current level of energy prices, with Help the Elderly saying it could prompt a spike in winter deaths.

Oldest and poorest worst hit by inflation

The oldest and poorest UK pensioners are suffering disproportionately from inflation, with rates double that of non-pensioners.

Tory: Pensioners should clean the streets

Pensioners should clean the streets to earn extra cash, a Conservative candidate for the next election has said.

Equality bill expected to outlaw age discrimination

Campaigners have been pushing for age-discrimination laws for a long time

Government leaks suggest tomorrow's single equality bill may outlaw discrimination on the basis of age.

822 pensioners a day fall into poverty

The statistics will increase pressure on the government to do something about pensioner poverty

Three hundred thousand pensioners have fallen into poverty over the last year, the government has revealed.

Brown accused of backtracking on age discrimination

Gordon Brown is accused of letting down the elderly

Prime minister Gordon Brown has been accused of backtracking on his commitment to eradicating age discrimination by a leading elderly rights group.

Elderly suffering discrimination, says charity

Sixty-one per cent of people in the UK believe people are treated worse the older they get, according to new research by the charity Help the Elderly.

Lib Dems promise improved elderly care

Clegg promises £2 billion fund for elderly care

Government should fund a £2 billion package of personal care budgets for the elderly, the Liberal Democrats said today.

Pensions U-turn 'betrays' women

Millions of women will now lose out on their full state pension after the government quietly reneged on a deal that would have allowed them to access full payment.

Govt 'failing' on elderly foot care

A lack of chiropody services is leaving thousands of older people housebound, a report has claimed.

Cameron 'baffles' traditional Tories

Winterton speaks up for grey-haired Tories

David Cameron's modernising reforms have "baffled" the Conservative party, one of his own backbenchers has claimed.

Funding boost for elderly care

The government has announced new funds to improve elderly care homes.

'Tag the elderly', minister proposes

Tagging could improve elderly people's independence

Science minister Malcolm Wicks has suggested tagging elderly people with dementia in order to track their movements.

MPs lobbied on anti-ageism laws

Help the Aged leading mass lobby of parliament

MPs will today meet with older people for a mass lobby of parliament ahead of the age discrimination law review.

Hewitt launches 'gimmicky' patient choice website

Disadvantaged groups will benefit most from new government initiatives designed to extend patient choice in the NHS, the health secretary Patricia Hewitt has claimed.

Commission to explore barriers to council diversity

The government is to explore why so many councillors are middle aged white men, with a new investigation exploring the barriers which prevent people from standing.

Child poverty puts govt inline to miss targets

Blair and Brown pledged to end child poverty

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are on course to miss their targets on child poverty, as new figures show the number of children in relative poverty has increased.

Lyons review: Make council tax fairer

Lyons review into local funding finally published

Council tax is not 'broken' but does need to be made fairer, a government-commissioned review concluded today.

Cameron bids for grey vote

David Cameron calls for change in attitudes to older workers

David Cameron has called for a "profound cultural change" in the way society treats older people, warning Britain must adapt to its ageing population.

Home care services shake-up urged

Inspection report finds home care services must be more flexible

Councils have been urged to rethink the way they provide home care for the elderly amid fears that services are too rushed and not properly tailored to people's needs.

Alzheimer's sufferers 'denied drugs'

The health watchdog rejected an appeal to make Alzheimer's drugs more widely available

Thousands of people suffering from early stage Alzheimer's will be denied drugs on the NHS following a ruling by the health watchdog today.

Flu vaccine delays put elderly at risk

Elderly people and asthma sufferers could be at risk if their flu vaccine is delayed

Fears that vulnerable people may have to wait for their free flu jabs were sparked today after the government confirmed that stockpiles of the vaccines had been delayed.