Commissioner for Older People and Ageing (England) - Consensus Statement

Led by charities Independent Age, Age UK, the Centre for Ageing Better and campaigning organisation the National Pensioners Convention, the group has today launched its consensus statement on the need for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England.

The Consensus Statement reads:

We call on the UK government to establish a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England to act as an independent champion for older people and ensure that policy and practice across government considers the long-term needs of people in later life and the implications of our ageing population on society.

Our society is ageing, and policymakers should embrace this demographic shift. Currently 11 million people are aged 65 or over, and in less than 20 years over 17 million (1 in 4) of us will be over 65. Growing older is a privilege, but an ageing population will require collaboration and joined-up thinking to deliver innovative policy solutions and meet the needs of the future, including alternatives to accessing information and services other than online.

The support people need in later life from institutions like the NHS and social care, and social security systems are critical, but no single government department can respond to these issues alone. A commissioner would facilitate the long-term planning that is needed to ensure our economy and public services are adapting to demographic shifts, while also enabling more people to age well. This would not just benefit older people, but our country as a whole.

A sharper focus on the range of experiences in later life is required. Not everyone enjoys a financially secure retirement – indeed an alarming proportion are struggling to make ends meet – and too often, older people’s rights and interests are forgotten by decision-makers, particularly as we face unprecedented crisis.

But there is an opportunity to fix this. Older people want to be part of the country’s vision, now, and in the future. As our older population becomes increasingly diverse, we believe that older people urgently need a champion at the heart of the government, working alongside the Older People’s Commissioners for Wales and Northern Ireland, to help make the UK the best place in the world to grow old.

Download the Consensus Statement

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Download PDF • 246KB

To join our call for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England, click here

Further information on the campaign for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England, can be found on:

https://www.npcuk.org/commissioner

https://www.independentage.org/commissioner

Consensus Statement Signatories

Independent Age

Centre for Ageing Better

Age UK

National Pensioner’s Convention

National Organisations

55/Redefined

Age International

Age UK London

Ageing without children

Alzheimer's Research UK

Anchor Housing

ARCO

ASLEF

Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union

British Geriatrics Society (BGS)

British Society of Gerontology (BSG)

British Transport Pensioners' Federation

Care England

Carers Trust

Carers UK

Centre for Mental Health

Civil Service Pensioners alliance (cspa)

Civil service retirement fellowship

Community

Cruse

Dementia Carers Count

Dementia UK

Demos

Digital Poverty Aliance

Disability Rights UK

End Fuel Poverty Coalition

Equity

Fuel Poverty Action

GMB

Hallmark Foundation

Healthwatch England

HomeCare Association

Hourglass

Housing 21

Housing LIN

International Longevity Centre UK (ILC)

Marie Curie