One year on and what has changed?
It’s exactly 12 months since the Age Action Alliance 2.0 was launched; and, since then, some 150 organisations and a further 30+ individuals have joined us in our efforts to promote collaboration, share knowledge and encourage networking between those public, private and third party bodies with an interest in later life issues – as well as older people’s representatives themselves.
Our latest members list is here:
The website is now a unique resource of knowledge and ideas, and hundreds of people daily read and share the Later Life AGEnda digest of news on ageing issues. Our first collaborative project – exploring ways to break down the barriers to benefit take up – is taking shape nicely in Manchester.
This month’s newsletter is once again packed with news, views and knowledge from members… from analysis of whether promises for an age-friendly London will become reality through to unveiling 2023’s “Unretirement Entrepreneur of the Year”.
Along the way there are helpful tips on working healthily from home, insights into the latest ageing-in-place technology, ways to decarbonise housing stock and advice on getting legal and financial advice if you or a loved one have dementia.
So, as we celebrate our first birthday, it’s worth asking: how much progress is being made to address the challenges of our ageing society and make the most of the opportunities?
It’s difficult not to be pessimistic. During 2023, we have seen little to no progress on key issues such as social care, housing and pensioner poverty. In particular, the promise to “fix social care” has been kicked further down the road, and the spectre of local authorities going bankrupt under the weight of growing social care demands and inadequate funding is now hanging in the air like the Sword of Damocles.
Anyone who attended the recent Centre for Ageing Better’s “State of Ageing” conference, or read the report, will be left in no doubt that – in many ways – the plight of millions of those on the lowest incomes continues to go backwards. New research covered in this edition from Age UK, Care & Repair Cymru and Independent Age reinforces that.
One glimmer of hope is the work currently underway by the Older People’s Housing Taskforce. Will their report open the eyes and ears of Government and planners? Time will tell…