Older People - from the NICVA Policy Manifesto
Posted by Feargal O'Kane on Feb 12 2007 under Older people, Policy Manifesto |
Our population is ageing quickly, but the maze of policies and lack of connection between them means that older people living here face discrimination, poverty and lack of recognition of the very positive contribution they make to their communities.
In Northern Ireland in 2004, there were 233,400 people over the age of 65, or 14% of the population, with further variation in some areas. By 2015 this is set to rise to 293,700, or 16%, and the increase will be highest in the 70+ age group, with numbers predicted to more than double in the forty years from 2001.
The Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002), which will be implemented by the UN Economic Commission for Europe, calls for changes in attitudes, policies and practices at all levels in all sectors so that the enormous potential of ageing in the twenty first century may be fulfilled. The UK Government is a signatory to this and has also produced a UK-wide strategy Opportunity Age.
Poverty and discrimination are signifi cant barriers to older people enjoying a full quality of life and must be proactively addressed by political leaders and public bodies. Employers should be supported to promote age diversity in the workforce, to ensure the continued economic activity of older people. Older people want equality of opportunity and a quality of life acceptable for all. They want to have support both socially and economically to make choices such as how long to work, which would require fl exible working patterns, and access to lifelong learning and any associated funding. They want to feel safe in their homes and communities and to be full participants in society. They want recognition of the major social and economic contribution they make as carers and volunteers. Shared issues, such as transport, isolation and the impact of the centralisation of key services are also exacerbated in rural areas.
The Review of Public Administration presents new opportunities for older people to become involved, in Community Planning or through new structures such as Elders Councils, and these must be investigated and seized where possible. Older people need a representative with adequate powers and resources to protect and promote their welfare and rights, therefore legislation should be brought forward to create the position of an Independent Commissioner for Older People. In addition to rolling out the Anti-Poverty Strategy and producing a Single Equality Bill with equal recognition for all grounds, government should:
- Implement the Ageing in an Inclusive Society strategy, in full consultation with those who formed it and including older people themselves in the process.
- Introduce free personal care for all people living in residential and nursing homes, standardise and integrate delivery of care provided in the home, and ensure that patients and their families are given clear and concise information, particularly with regard to cost.
- Provide greater funding for both research into and treatment of the mental health needs of older people.
- Resource and deliver a targeted education programme to support key health and social care professionals to identify and appropriately respond to issues of elder abuse in care settings and in the community.
- Introduce free public transport for women aged between 60 and 65 until the equalisation of pension age, extend the concessionary fares scheme to cover community transport, and make wider transport provision in rural areas where no public or community transport is available.
- Increase benefit uptake among all those who are entitled, including provision of guidance on completing applications and identifi cation of passport benefi t entitlements.
- Consult widely on and implement the Community Safety Strategy with older people and their representatives, ensure that older people have access to information on reliable tradespeople to carry out adaptations and small jobs, and encourage all Community Safety Partnerships to use the example set by Belfast CSP.
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