Landmark Study Reveals Extent Of Challenges For People Growing Old In England – Despite Scarcity Of Data
Hourglass, the only charity focused on the abuse and neglect of older people in the UK has released a revolutionary Safer Ageing Index in partnership with the Hallmark Foundation. This study highlights the challenges people face when growing old in England.
This, the first Safer Ageing Index for England, highlights how the most vulnerable generation of people, so deeply affected by the pandemic and now the economic crisis, have another battle on their hands. And that is to live in a society that understands and flexes to the needs of an ageing society.
This Index, which will be re-issued every year, is a wakeup call to parliamentarians, local government and other influencers and policy-makers that older people cannot be the last in line. The charity, underlines that a Safer Ageing Agenda should be prioritised to ensure older people can continue to contribute both socially and economically to the English infrastructure.
The report, which suggests significant issues in the South West and North of England, underlines that addressing the needs and challenges faced by the growing population of older adults is crucial in creating a Safer Ageing Society. This includes providing adequate housing options, healthcare services, social support, and combating social isolation to ensure a better quality of life for older people across England.
Some of the key findings are as follows:
– That older people are often removed from key data – leading to a paucity and lack of up to date and consistent data from national and local government.
– The data reveals a dichotomy between regions closer to London and more Northern regions in terms of population, health and isolation effects.
– Lack of accessible and localised data poses a key issue to developing effective evidence-based policies/strategies and in monitoring progress on Safer Ageing.
– Regions in the North of England consistently show higher instances of self-care needs, limiting long-term illnesses, obesity, and dementia.
– The South West, as a whole, also faces a substantial healthcare and support need for its older population.
– There are broader health challenges outside of the South East of England which may be related to poverty, lack of investment, and lack of effective support
– Report suggests combatting social isolation and loneliness through community engagement, support networks, and initiatives that promote social interaction and connection among older individuals.
The study comes off the back of the charity’s successful Safer Ageing Week which aims to underline that the abuse and neglect of older people is an all-too-often overlooked and under prioritised issue.
Hourglass, which works with over 50,000 victim-survivors (and their families and contacts) annually, launched the England Safer Ageing Index, and the event saw the charity launch its commitment to a Safer Ageing Society by 2050, a detailed Manifesto as well as celebrating its 30th anniversary.
The Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris, said during her keynote speech at the Hourglass Conference: “I know that in the last financial year alone, Hourglass provided support to over 6,000 people through their helpline alone and I know this is a vital starting point for many people to access support and I’m very glad that Hourglass and the Home Office will be continuing our work together in the year ahead.
“I want to congratulate Hourglass for their introduction of the Safer Ageing Index for England. This is a significant achievement that we will be looking at carefully to see how it can improve Home Office policy development.”
The Hallmark Foundation, which provides funding for initiatives that focus on ageing well, supported the development and construction of the England Safer Ageing Index (alongside all four nation-based reports). Their CEO, Stephen Burke, commented:
“Wherever the growing number of older people live in the UK, they should be confident that they can age well and safely. Sadly, that is not true.
“This ground-breaking research highlights why these issues need to be much higher priority for all levels of government across the UK and where policymakers should focus attention. Updating the index annually will show older people, their families and communities whether progress is being made.”
The Deputy CEO of Hourglass, Veronica Gray, who spearheaded the Safer Ageing Index initiative, underlined the charity’s commitment to Safer Ageing.
“Hourglass wants the people of England to age safely, free from abuse and neglect and we want to work with communities, third sector colleagues, academics, statutory agencies, local government and parliamentarians to make a difference. That’s why we are using our Conference, entitled Towards a Safer Ageing Society, to launch this index and our own commitment to a Safer Ageing Society by 2050. This is entirely achievable if government considers data like this index and the Hourglass Manifesto. With the older population that is set to rise sharply over coming years, now is the time to place safer ageing at the forefront of the policy agenda.”
