Care home residents 'losing will to live' amid Covid restrictions in England

A powerful coalition of charities and campaign groups have signed a statement calling on the creation of an Older People’s Commissioner.

The demand for an OAP tsar comes as pensioner poverty has soared to 150,000.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth is to launch a member’s bill for a dedicated commissioner for senior citizens.

The plan is being supported by 30 groups who have signed a “consensus statement”, released by the Independent Age charity.

It reads: “We call on the Scottish Government to establish an Older People’s Commissioner for Scotland 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.

“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.

“Older people want to be part of the nation’s vision, now, and in the future. As our older population becomes increasingly diverse, we believe that older people urgently need a champion to help make Scotland the best place in the world to grow old.”

The declaration was signed by groups including Age Scotland, Scottish Care, Fuel Poverty Action and the National Pensioners Convention.

Supporters believe a Commissioner could tackle issues such as poverty, loneliness and social care provision.

Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said: “The dangerous stereotype that all older people are financially secure is common, and too often older people are not given the opportunity to voice their experience about what they need, including better financial support. This is wrong.

“We all deserve to look forward to our later years and an Older People’s Commissioner could help. If introduced they will be an independent champion standing up for everyone in later life.

“We urge the Scottish Government to establish an Older People’s Commissioner and bring Scotland into line with the other devolved nations to ensure no one feels left out of the conversation as they age.”

Smyth said: “There’s no doubt there is widespread support to create an Older People’s Commissioner for Scotland.

“The profound impact of the Covid pandemic on older people showed the lack of someone independent of Government but with the ear of Ministers at the table when big decisions affecting older people are being made.

Independent Age will deliver a £1.1bn invoice to the government to highlight the value of Pension Credit still going unclaimed. The charity estimates that the money is large enough to pay the  annual average energy bill for 454,000 households. Read more about the campaign in the Daily Mirror. 

As part of the ongoing campaign for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing in England, Independent Age released a video and held an event in parliament. The video included footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, radio DJ Tony Blackburn, choreographer and theatre director Dame Arlene Phillips, actor Don Warrington and TV chef Rustie Lee who all added their voices to the campaign. The campaign and video was covered by over a hundred national and regional news outlets including The Mirror, The Times (print), The Express, The Scotsman (print), The Herald, Evening Standard.

Independent Age's comment on the tragic death of Barbara Bolton, 87, from hypothermia after she feared turning on her heating, was used extensively in the Greater Manchester Evening News both in print and online.  John Palmer, Director of Policy and Communications, expressed his sadness and anger at the avoidable death of Barbara, and the fact that many more older people experiencing poverty have been ‘stuck in bed’ during the cold months. He urges people to reach out to IA if they are in need of support, and check their eligibility for Pension Credit.

Independent Age received a request from the Daily Mail to give comment on how our helpline calls have been affected by the increased cost of living. John Palmer, Director of Policy and Communications, explained how money worries are now the main topic of concern in these calls. Hundreds of calls a month coming through to our helpline are now asking for cost of living support, grants, or a way to increase their income. The Daily mail quoted John both in print and online.

The government postponed a decision on bringing forward the State Pension age increase. We issued a comment welcoming this decision that was featured in The Guardian. They also referenced our research that shows that previous rise in the state pension age had resulted in increased poverty among older people.

72 organisations have joined together to call for better representation for older people across government-policy making. 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 campaign launch received coverage in The Mirror and The Express

Following the Chancellor's Spring Budget, several of IA's media volunteers were used by national press in profile pieces discussing the impact the budget would have on different groups. Yvonne spoke to the Daily Mail, Veronica spoke to The i (print) and Thabani submitted a question to ITV's consumer editor. All articles mention Independent Age.