Improving the lives of Older People

Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people

Improving the lives of Older People

David Richardson

National Programme Delivery Manager

Age Concern and Help the Aged


Why am I here today?

To give an overview of AgeUK – the new name

for Age Concern England and Help the Aged.

To announce the new support for NHW

provided by the Home Office and DWP.

To explain what we’ve been asked to produce.

To seek opinions on the content.

To invite people to take part in the pathfinder projects.



Commercial B

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… and then there was one

Ten years of trying

Age Concern England and Help the Aged merged on 1 Apr 09

forming AgeUK.

The AgeUK family comprises Age Scotland,

Age Cymru and Age Northern Ireland.

New brand will launch on 12 April.

No peeping!


Vision: A world in which older people flourish

Mission To improve the lives of older people

Organisation A charity and a social enterprise driven

by the needs and aspirations of people in later life

Age UK


We do

AgeUK has an annual turnover of £160 million.

2,500 staff and 8,000 volunteers provide direct services

and support for people in later life

The Services Division provides:

– Information and Advice to over 5 million older

people every year,

– National telephone support service,

– Service Development,

– Regional Support,

– Direct Services, including HandyVan.


Some examples

Ageing Well - older people take control of own health issues.

fit as a fiddle - helping older people live more healthy and active lives.

Intergenerational - to fulfil the requirements of children, young people and older

adults.

Involving older people - as customers and contributors.

Mental Health Network - promote mental health message.

Technology and communications - social inclusion of older people through

technology.


Business as usual

Local Age Concerns are independent and part of “the

Federation”.

Many have already signed up to the new organisation.

Help the Aged and Age Concern shops will rebrand from Apr 10.

Intune and Age Concern Enterprises (our commercial services)

will combine and continue to provide:

– Financial services

– Insurance services

HelpAge International continues as an active partner.


THE MAIN FEATURE


NHW Initiative

Home Office partnership with Age Concern and Help the

Aged “Action Against Burglary” reaching out to over

100,000 older people with basic safer homes message.

Peer Mentor training.

Department of Work and Pensions responsible for

government policies on older people.

Develop support package for NHW.


Some first thoughts . . .



Help NHW coordinators identify the most vulnerable older people in communities

Information on ageing population. Changing demographics.

Balance of population.

Dependent and vulnerable groups. Age does not mean infirm or

disabled. What is ‘vulnerable’. Not all older people are vulnerable,

not all vulnerable people are old. Safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Characteristics of vulnerable older people. Types of vulnerability

and dependency

Psychological aspects of isolation. Effects of social isolation.

Accelerate move to residential care.


An Aging Population

There are nearly 12 million pensioners, almost one in five of the

UK's total population.

There are now more people in the UK aged 60 and above than

there are under 18, and more pensioners than there are children

under 16.

Nearly 1.3 million people are aged 85 or over.

There are over 10,000 centenarians in England and Wales.

About 3.7 million older people live alone (one in 20 households).

Over 1 million older people in the UK always or often feel lonely.


To develop understanding of the needs of vulnerable older people

Techniques of public speaking and training.

Low risk of crime v high expectation of crime.

High impact of crime on older people – loss of

independence; potentially life shortening.

Appropriate crime prevention advice.

Ways to increase the security and perception of security of

older people within their own homes.

Intergenerational relationships and anti social behaviour.


Information on support available to help older people to live independently in the

community

Not to become advisers!

Statutory bodies


Local Age Concerns

Other voluntary community organisations and faith groups


What Next?

Come and see me in Discussion Sessions:

– What do you think?

– What more is needed?

– How do NHW coordinators engage with older people and older people’s

organisations?

Sign up to the pathfinder courses:– Manchester - 27/28 February

– London evening - 2, 10 and 16 March

– Leeds - 8/9 March

– Birmingham -13/14 March (weekend)

– Newcastle - 22/23 March.

E-mail for more information at [email protected]

Documents

Improving the lives of Older People