England needs an Older People's Commissioner to act as a 'powerful voice' for pensioners, says former care minister

England needs an Older People’s Commissioner to act as a ‘powerful voice’ for pensioners, says former care minister.

Former care minister Paul Burstow is calling for an Older People’s Commissioner to represent the interests of pensioners to Government and to help England prepare for the challenges posed by an aging society.

The report 'Giving older people a voice', edited by Mr Burstow and published by the think tank CentreForum, says England should follow the example set by Northern Ireland and Wales in establishing an Office of an Older People's Commissioner.

It also calls for the Care Bill which currently making its way through Parliament to be changed to enable the role to be constituted with appropriate statutory powers.

The Liberal Democrat MP, Mr Burstow said: "Older people need a powerful voice, someone who listens to and acts on their concerns. Too often our ageing population is presented as a looming crisis. Successive governments have overlooked the huge contribution of older people and failed to prepare for the rapid ageing of the population. It is time that changed."

"Older People's Commissioners in Wales and Northern Ireland are already making a difference. Older people in England deserve their own champion and should not be treated as second class citizens. The Care Bill currently going through Parliament is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss to legislate for an Older People's Commissioner for England."

The proposal is being backed by Baroness Bakewell, Esther Rantzen and Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales

In the report, Sarah Rochira outlined the benefits her role has bought to the older residents of Wales as the older people’s commissioner and representative for them. She said: "My job as Older People's Commissioner for Wales is to stand up and speak out for older people and to make sure that those who run our services, as well as our national and local government, understand and act upon the issues that matter to them. Getting it right for older people is not just a moral issue; it goes to the heart of public service. When we get it right for older people, we get it right for everybody."

Mr Burstow said he would like the role of the Welsh Older People’s Commissioner to be used as a guide for England’s commissioner.

Labour peer Baroness Joan Bakewell, who acted as older persons’ ‘tsar’ under the previous government, drew on her experiences stating in the report there is a need for a more formal role representing pensioners needs. She said: “Plenty of people have ideas about caring for the old. But who is representing what the old themselves think and want? That's the job of an Older People's Commissioner; that's why we need one now.

“[As older persons’ ‘tsar’]"I could write sympathetic letters... But I felt totally inadequate to answer what is clearly a desperate public need [for an Older People's Commissioner]."

Esther Rantzen joined the call for an Older People’s Commissioner and said: "Every survey of older people reflects the fact that they are not consulted even when decisions are made that vitally affect them. They are not valued and treated with respect. And yet our nation, our families, charities, cities and villages could not function without their contribution. It is time they are appropriately, adequately represented with an Older People's Commissioner. They deserve no less."

To read the full report visit: http://www.centreforum.org/index.php/mainpublications/519-giving-older-people-a-voice