Working Together

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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
John Place, Older People Demographic Change
lead, GO-Eastvice-chair, Future East, the
regional forum on ageingJohn.Place_at_goeast.gsi.go
v.uk
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
You need to do 2 things
Age proof your community strategy Future
proof your community strategy(This will make it
sustainable!)
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A strategy to combat social exclusion in old age
should consist of two main elements on the one
hand targeted action to tackle poverty and social
exclusion among current cohorts of older people
and, on the other, a long term programme of
preventative action to ensure that future cohorts
do not experience social exclusion in old age
Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
using 7 props

• A ladder
• A Christmas tree
• A gun
• A bus
• Some swimming goggles
• Some nail scissors
• A telephone

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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 1 Identify the needs and aspirations of
older people
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 2 Check out the demographics
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East of England
2004
2004 - 2029
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 3 Adopt a life-course approach
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A Sure Start in Later Life Ending Inequalities
for Older People (2006)
ChildhoodGrowth and development
Younger Adult LifeMaintaining highest possible
level of function
Older Adult LifeMaintaining independence and
preventing disability
Range of health well-being in individuals
Level of well-being
Disability threshold
Age
Services can have a strong preventative effect if
the timing is right. At these times services
must join-up to meet multiple needs.
Decline in heath, falls etc
Change of role (loss of job, family move away)
Death of a carer or relative
Drop in income
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 4 Its not just about health!
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Transport as an example
Unless youve got transport youre beat before
you start and if you cant walk very well, and
you havent got the best health well, it can be
a soul destroying experience, stuck out in the
sticks
91 of single pensioners and 53 of pensioner
couples do not own a car, whilst public transport
can be infrequent and inaccessible. Research
in rural areas shows that this is particularly
important.
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 5 But it is about health too!
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Poor health and lack of transport seem to be
obstacles to participation
As people age, poor health and lack of transport
become increasingly significant barriers to
attending arts events. Cost becomes less
important but remains one of the main factors.
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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 6 Dont discriminate!
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Of the 6.5 million older people requiring foot
care, almost one in four cannot access it
Help the Aged/Open University Too Old older
peoples accounts of discrimination, exclusion
and rejection 2007

• Sexuality Almost half of people (47 per cent)
  agree that society discourages older people from
  expressing themselves sexually.
• Fashion 70 per cent of people think that older
  people who try to look or dress young are treated
  as figures of fun.
• Race 43 per cent of people agree that people
  from black and ethnic minority groups face double
  the discrimination in older age.
• Business as usual 53 per cent of people think
  that businesses and retailers have little
  interest in older people as consumers

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Addressing Social Inequalities in the Eastern
RegionPreparing for your Sustainable Community
Strategy
Older People and Demographic Change
Step 7 address multiple social exclusion
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Key risk factors for complex, multiple exclusion
English Longitudinal Study on Ageing (ELSA)
Rented accommodationHaving no living
childrenNo physical activityBenefits as main
source of incomeCity resident