The Elderly

Who are the Elderly?

• People who are old enough to receive the state pension
• Currently women get the state pension at 60 and men at 65
• By 2020 women will also only recieve the state pension at 65

What are the social concerns of the elderly?

• Over half those who are older than 75 live alone
• Some do not have central heating
• Some are discriminated against when applying for jobs
• The proportion of elderly people is increasing

What are the economic concerns of the elderly?

• Most pensioners have to survive on less than half their wages
• Many elderly have only small savings
• Most pensioners do not have their own car
• However, some elderly people are well off

What does sheltered housing provide?

• This is housing that is adapted to meet the needs of elderly people
• It allows them to continue to live independent lives
• It is usually part of a small scheme and has a warden "on call"
• Residents have alarms in case of emergency
• The furniture and equipment are designed for older people

What do residential homes provide?

• These are provided by either private companies, local authorities or voluntary groups
• They are for elderly people who have difficulty looking after themselves
• Care workers help look after the social needs of the residents

How can houses be adapted to meet the needs of elderly people?

• Stair lifts and extra rails to help the elderly moving between floors
• Hand rails in showers and toilets
• Alarms, either under the carpet or worn round the neck, so that help can be called if there is an accident
• Powered vehicles for moving around

Why do the elderly have greater health needs?

• The elderly are more likely to suffer from arthritis and rheumatism
• Most elderly people have some problem with their eyesight
• Problems with hearing increases with age
• Elderly people are more prone to hypothermia (low body heat), especially in winter
• Senile Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease) is an illness that affects the brain. It reduces the physical and mental capacity of a sufferer

How have new medical developments helped the lifestyle of elderly people?

• Hip replacement operations allow older people to move around more easily
• Cataract surgery can improve the eyesight
• More advanced medical equipment e.g. whole body scanners, intensive medical care, help the elderly as well as other age groups
• Minute hearing aids
• Pacemakers help older people with heart conditions

Why are some elderly wealthier than others?

• They have worked in well paid jobs and have been able to save rather than have debts
• They have a good pension from their jobs, and/or have invested in a private pension
• They have a well paid family that supports them
• This group is sometimes known as WOOPIES (Well Off Older People)

What benefits are the elderly entitled to recieve?

The benefits available from the government include

• Retirement pension (men over 65, women over 60 to 65)
• Attendance allowance -for ill or disabled people over 65 who need a lot of looking after
• Christmas bonus (over 65)
• Cold weather payment
• Winter fuel payment
• Income support - this is "means tested"
• Housing benefit - this is "means tested"
• Council tax benefit - this is "means tested"
• Free prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests from the NHS (National Health Service)

Why do some elderly people not claim the benefit they are entitled to receive?

• Some benefits, such as income support, are means tested. This means they are not given automatically, but depend on a person's income and savings. Some elderly do not want their income and savings looked into
• Some elderly do not know they are entitled to the benefit
• Some elderly do not want to rely on others
• Some elderly people are too proud or embarrased to ask for "charity"
• Some elderly do not want to go through the application process

What other types of support are available to the elderly?

• Some councils offer travel concessions (cheap fares)
• Day centres
• Church organisations
• Pressure groups such as Age Concern aim to improve the status of the elderly

What arguments are there for increasing the old age pension?

• The state pension is barely enough to cover meet the basic needs of the elderly
• The value of the state pension has declined over recent times when compared to inflation
• Although the poorest pensioners will be entitled to income support, some people do not claim it
• Pressure groups such as Age Concern aim to improve the status of the elderly

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