The Equality Bill Must Deliver Real Protection For Older People, Says Age Concern And Help The Aged, UK

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 27 Apr 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Ahead of the publication next week of the Equality Bill which promises an outright ban on age discrimination, Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director for Age Concern and Help the Aged, says:

'The Equality Bill will be gladly received by the millions of older people who suffer age discrimination on a daily basis. It is a milestone in the battle for fairness in later life.

'But the Bill only gives ministers the power to ban age discrimination in services if they wish. We want to see an unbreakable legal commitment to introduce new rights, across the public and private sectors.

'Age discrimination in health and social care services can literally mean the difference between life and death. Because of their age, older people are being denied vital treatments with no legal protection. Each day older people are refused financial products like travel insurance for no better reason than the date on their birth certificate.

'The Equality Bill offers a huge opportunity to bring an end to unacceptable ageist practises. We warmly welcome it. But until the promise of new rights is irreversible, we will continue our campaign for fair treatment.'

Age Concern and Help the Aged is also calling on the Government to use the opportunity presented by the Bill to address the outmoded national default retirement age. This legislation allows companies to force healthy and capable employees out of a job simply because of their age, even if they wish to continue working past 65.

Michelle Mitchell, Charity Director for Age Concern and Help the Aged, continues: 'Many politicians and employers have already recognised that a national default retirement age no longer makes sense and the majority of the public want to see it abolished too. The Equality Bill is the perfect opportunity for the Government to end this blatant form of discrimination.'

Useful Statistics on Age discrimination in the UK

- The equivalent of 35 million adults of all ages (74 per cent of survey respondents) think age discrimination should be outlawed completely.

- From age 55 onwards, people were nearly twice as likely to have experienced age prejudice than any other form of discrimination.

- One in five people aged 75 and over have been refused travel insurance or had health-related restrictions imposed. This is five times more likely than for those aged 30-49.

- Almost half (47%) of British Geriatrics Society Doctors think the NHS is institutionally ageist.

- Three quarters (77%) of British Geriatrics Society Doctors members would support the introduction of legislation against age discrimination in the NHS.

Notes

ICM interviewed a random sample of 1000 adults aged 18+ from its telephone omnibus between 11th - 13th April 2008. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at http://www.icmresearch.co.uk

RoAD survey conducted for Help the Aged by ICM Research, November 2006. 1070 people aged 16+. Age Concern, "How Ageist is Britain?" (2005).

The British Geriatrics Society, on behalf of Help the Aged, surveyed a sample of 201 of its UK members from a total of 2000 UK members on the 30th May 2008. Surveys were conducted across the country and the sample has been confirmed by an independent poling company as representative of UK BGS members.

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

Source
Help The Aged