Don't stop me now ... councils must wake up to the role that older people can play

17/07/2008

Councils must take action to utilise the skills and expertise of older people living in their area for the mutual benefit of the whole community, says Counsel and Care, in response to the Audit Commission's new report "Don't Stop Me Now".
 
The charity has further called on local councils to plan properly for an ageing population, as the Audit Commission’s findings show that, despite pockets of innovative practice, most councils are ignoring the fact that older people have as much right to be active and socially involved in their local community as younger generations.
 
Stephen Burke, Chief Executive of Counsel and Care, said: "Such a shortsighted approach misses the potential for the development of age-friendly neighbourhoods where younger people can share in the wealth of experience and knowledge older people have.

"In turn, leisure and social activities, learning and training opportunities for older people should not be the first services to be cut when times are tight.
 
 “While good quality care is vitally important, older people’s expectations are much wider and much more diverse than this. The majority of people who actually vote are aged over 60, but the voices of this age group often go unheard. Counsel and Care’s VotingAge campaign – run by and for older people – has been seeking the views of older people across the country on the key issues that affect their lives, which will be published in a powerful manifesto for change.
 
“Addressing the wider concerns that affect the whole lives of older people must be a priority of both politicians and councils in the lead up to the next general election to ensure that local communities are better places to enjoy life and grow old in.”

In their response to the report, Age Concern's Director General Gordon Lishman said: "This report is shocking and clearly shows that local authorities are failing to address the needs of our ageing population. It is hugely worrying that funding for services to keep older people active and socially engaged has been cut in many areas.
 
"Social exclusion among older people is a significant and pressing problem that will not disappear without urgent action by local and national government. A cross-departmental government commitment is urgently needed to help the most disadvantaged older people. Local authorities must also work much harder to age-proof local services and community programmes, and ensure their services are joined-up, user-friendly, rooted in the community and flexible enough to reach out to vulnerable older people.
 
“Of course the provision of acute social care services is absolutely vital but local authorities must not use that as an excuse to ignore the vast majority of older people who are in need of preventative support and services.”