GOLDEN YEARS
Socially Excluded
and too Old to Help?
A critical report launched in June by Age UK and The Salvation Army shines a light on the specific challenges experienced by people who are socially excluded in later life. The report explores the issues facing people living with poverty, homelessness, drug or alcohol addiction, severe mental illness and/or who are ex-offenders. The report ‘Too old to help’
• Older people are expected to attend
found
social
services in the same spaces as younger
incredibly
adults, which can be intimidating, particularly
difficult at any age, ageing magnifies the
if people are being disruptive or violent.
challenges and the stigma which socially
When accessing group services, they may
excluded people already face, while at
also find it hard to relate to younger people
the same time often reducing the support
or feel ashamed and embarrassed if they are
which is available.
older than other service users.
• Health services not asking older people
• That many services that support socially
about their alcohol consumption or drug use
excluded people often centre on finding
because they presume that these problems
employment,
are an issue experienced by younger people.
relevant for people who are state pension
that
exclusion
while was
• Services are not adapting to meet the needs of people living with cognitive impairment. For example, communications can be long and complicated and support
which
isn’t
necessarily
age. Rehabilitation services may also offer distraction activities which aren’t suitable for older people living with long-term conditions or in poor health, for example sports.
isn’t provided to help people to remember
• Or staff who may be ill-equipped to
their appointments.
support older people with long-term health
n 24 | Worcestershire Now | Issue 208 | July 2021
conditions, or disabilities, and similarly for those who require personal care, such as help with washing or toileting. Sadly, the research found that ageist attitudes and assumptions also play a role. It found some professionals were deterred from providing support for older people as they felt they were ‘too old to change’, or because they believed that resources were better invested in helping younger adults.
“The thing is, you get to an age where you know that you’re destined to be alone.” Stuart, age 56. “I contacted the GP as I have a list of things that I wanted to check in about, but they told me the only way was to go online. I can’t do CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE
