Charity urges action over 'vast differences' in death rates for poor and wealthy elderly

The Centre for Ageing Better is calling for a radical rethink from the government, businesses and charities, after its report highlighted that today’s over 50s on low incomes are more likely to die younger and become sick earlier than their wealthier peers.

Their report ‘The State of Ageing in 2019’ says there are vast differences in how people in the UK experience ageing depending on where they live, how much money they have or what sex or ethnicity they are. Pensioner poverty is on the rise for the first time since 2010, with women and black and minority ethnic groups most severely hit.

While people aged 65 can expect to live just half of the remainder of their life without disability, those who live in less affluent parts of the country will die earlier and be sicker for longer, according to the report. This will lead to the less well off needing daily help with activities like washing and dressing as they age, which will put more pressure on the social care sector.

Dr Anna Dixon, chief executive, Centre for Ageing Better, said “Living for longer can provide us with huge opportunities to enjoy ourselves and spend time doing the things we love. But this report is a wake-up call for us all – many people in their 50s and 60s now, particularly those who are less well-off, simply won’t get the quality of later life that they expect or deserve.

“We must act now to add life to our years; to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to make the most of a longer life. Without radical action today to help people age well, we are storing up problems for the future and leaving millions at risk of poverty and poor health in later life.”

The report warns that Britain is undergoing a radical demographic shift, with the number of people aged 65 and over set to rise by over 40 per cent in just two decades, reaching over 17m by 2036.

The Centre for Ageing Better wants to see a greater focus on tackling preventable causes of ill health and disabilities, such as poor diet and not enough physical activity. It also called for the government to make it mandatory for new homes to be built accessible and adaptable as standard and commit to improving the condition of existing housing.

In addition, employers must do more to support people to keep working in fulfilling jobs as long as they want, especially those managing health problems or caring responsibilities, said the report.