Calls intensify for a Minister for Older People amidst urgent challenges facing ageing population

•    Anchor and Dame Esther lead calls for a dedicated Minister for Older People
•    62% of the public back the creation of a Minister for Older People
•    71% of older people back the creation of a Minister for Older People 

Dame Esther Rantzen, Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people, and national home care provider Home Instead UK are urging new Prime Minister Liz Truss to appoint a Minister for Older People.
 
The call comes amidst the current storm made up of a rapidly ageing population, cost of living crisis, and pressure on vital services supporting people in later life.
 
The creation of a Minister for Older People is strongly supported by the public – Anchor’s research reveals that 62% of the public back the creation of a Minister for Older People, rising to 71% of older people.
 
Dame Esther Rantzen, President of The Silver Line, a 24-hour helpline offering information and companionship for older people experiencing loneliness, says:

The UK’s ageing population is at the very centre of the challenges which will face the new government. From the cost of living, pressure on the NHS, access to social care and the housing crisis, many older people find themselves at the sharp end of many of the most urgent matters affecting the nation.
 
In addition, the digital switchover currently affecting many different areas of life in this country, from banking to telephones, excludes and isolates many older people who do not use the internet and do not possess smart phones.

Sarah Jones, Chief Executive of Anchor, says:

For too long, there has been a sense amongst older people that their concerns are ignored. As such, there’s a hugely pressing need for a Minister for Older People to be appointed to champion, celebrate and protect older people. Anchor’s research shows the extent of this problem: 57% of older people think they are overlooked in society and 77% of the country worry about their quality of life as they get older.
 
An ageing population and rising cost of living mean joined-up thinking across government departments in the areas of housing, health, and social care among many others, has never been more important. Appointing a dedicated Minister is a unique opportunity for the new Prime Minister to send a clear message that they are serious about addressing the wide-ranging needs of our ageing population and future-proofing services for generations to come.

Martin Jones, CEO of Home Instead, says:

We need a Minister for Older People who will champion the rights of our ageing population, and help structure health and social care to meet their evolving needs, whilst also celebrating the contribution they make to society.

Every day our home care teams see the benefits of empowering older people. We need to have the right infrastructure in place, but we also need to give them a voice so that, as a society, we help them to live well.