Action on health and care
Record NHS waiting lists, older patients unable to return home from hospital because of the crisis in care, councils lacking the funds to maintain vital services, care homes facing closure through spiralling costs… the cash-strapped health and care sector is struggling to meet the needs of many of those who use it most at a time of rising demand.
As the biggest users of health and care services, older people find themselves in the front line of the battle for the wellbeing of the nation.
So how can the Age Action Alliance make a positive contribution?
By bringing together providers, charities and experts with the very people who rely most on these services, we hope to arrive at workable solutions as well as flag up and make our voices heard on the issues. Topics will include:
- Independent living
- Care options and funding
- Home adaptations
- Maintaining health and wellbeing
- Support and benefits
- Telecare
- Living with dementia
- Health insurance
Get involved
We believe constructive dialogue and informed decision making is always the way forward and so we hope to use this section to provide a forum for debate and a home for helpful information and advice.
If you would like to contribute in any way, do please get in touch by emailing info@theageactionalliance.org.
The Age Action Alliance is supported by
Latest News
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Age UK’s “blueprint for older people” prioritises pension security and health
Age UK’s new report, drawn from nationwide polling, comes in time for the coming UK General Election. It contains 52 separate policy recommendations covering many different aspects of later life.
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With Covid still here, ILC issues plea to support employee vaccinations
Covid has not gone away, and with many older people potentially vulnerable to the effects of Long-Covid, ILC-UK is urging the Government to provide tax incentives to support employers who want to vaccinate their older members of staff.
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How images can help those living with dementia engage with life
When we develop severe dementia and our ability to get out in the real world is limited, pictures, writes Deborah Stone, can play a vital role in engagement. But be careful about the images you show…
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Spring Budget branded a “missed opportunity” to help the poorest pensioners
While the financial pundits pontificate over the finer details of the Spring Budget, and politicians of all colours ponder over its potential impact on the next General Election, the significance for pensioners is clearly… well, insignificant. By Tony Watts OBE.
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Older people’s mental health “being overlooked” through ageism and discrimination
The report, “Mental Health in Later Life” says that ageism and discrimination stop older people from accessing support, with poor mental health often dismissed by health professionals as an “inevitable” part of getting older.
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Shipshape and Bristol fashion: all aboard for better mental health
This February saw the launch of a new boat in Bristol harbour… one which is designed to help improve the mental health of local older people.
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Older Londoners concerned about their ability to access healthcare
Research conducted by Age UK London shows that almost two thirds of older Londoners (63%) are concerned about their ability to access healthcare when they need it.
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Life expectancy decline hits economy and workforce
Life expectancy for people aged over 50 has started to fall, new research from the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC) reveals. The think tank finds that changes to the health and life expectancy of people over 50 will have a significant impact on the economy.
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National care charity MHA launches lifestyle and wellness app
The UK’s largest charity care provider, MHA, has launched MHA Active, an app offering tailored lifestyle and wellbeing content for older people, with the aim of keeping minds and bodies active.
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Stop being ostriches: carers need more support, argue longevity experts
A new briefing, released by the International Longevity Centre, highlights new analysis that shows that the average person in the UK spends more hours caring for others – by parenting, caring, and working unpaid in the home – than looking after themselves, and those on lower incomes are even more likely to neglect themselves.
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1.2m older unpaid carers say their health has deteriorated over the last 12 months
“It’s draining, exhausting and like holding back the tide. You’re alone, abandoned, invisible and unappreciated.”
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Age UK: “Care Quality Commission report paints alarming picture”
The charity has responded to the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) annual assessment of the state of health & adult social care in England looking at the quality of care over the past year.
Latest blogs & comments
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Bringing healthcare home to patients
An “older people’s sounding board” is giving clinicians, consultants and service designers in the NHS direct access to the lived experiences of service users. Tony Watts OBE attended a recent meeting organised by the NDTi to find out what was being achieved.
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Co-designing a healthier future
A small team in East Sussex is harnessing the knowledge of older people to co-design an integrated Minor Injuries and Illness Unit (MIIU) that – they believe – will lead to improved patient experiences, and are looking to learn from others around the country.
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Explaining dementia to children
“Why doesn’t granny know me anymore?” This is the sort of question that a young child might ask when a grandparent is affected by dementia. Professor June Andrews explains how you can help young people in your family understand the condition.
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Breaking down the taboos around terminal illness
A new book, “Going Gentle” by Dr Philip Graham, explores some of the key issues around a topic that all of us, at some point, have to face up to – and offers practical advice based on the experiences of those who have lost loved ones. Review by Tony Watts OBE
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The importance of community as we age
On the whole, writes Jo Volpe, Chief Executive Officer, Leeds Older People’s Forum, people want a healthy and happy later life – to have a “good innings” – and our local community groups are so vital for this as we age.
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Dementia: what legal and financial planning should I consider?
From whether you should be paying for care through to sorting out an LPA, Professor June Andrews looks at some of the key things to consider if you or a loved one have dementia.
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Ageing in place technology: revolutionising retirement living
The innovation team from ExtraCare Charitable Trust recently triumphed at the Senior Housing Awards, winning the “Best Use of Technology in Seniors Housing” award. Here, their Research and Technology Lead Kerry Stack explains how their appliance of science is breaking down barriers and helping older people age in place.
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Providing health care, social care, community support and housing for older people: a good practice model
Some thirty years ago, writes Peter Dale, the Rye Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital in East Sussex was threatened with closure. Today, it is an example of what can be achieved by a combination of professional collaboration, community involvement and a willingness to “join the dots” between services.
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Why are numbers of residents with dementia in care homes increasing?
Why are there more residents with dementia in care homes and how does that impact on the care homes themselves? By Professor June Andrews.
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Methodist Homes: on a mission to “fix care for all”
Methodist Homes (MHA), the largest charity care provider in the UK, is on a mission to fix care for all. Their Campaigns and Public Affairs Officer, Luke Buckland, explains how you can help support their aims.
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Uncounted is unseen: has the time come to collect more official data on ageing without children?
Mapping informal carers and their support needs has rightly become a key priority for health and social care in recent years. However, equivalent information about access to informal care, including where there is none, has lagged behind, writes Penny Shepherd MBE of AWOC (Ageing Without Children).
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A unique way to pay for residential care… without selling your home
Every year, thousands of elderly people and their families face the conundrum of how to pay for care home fees – which can typically be between £40,000 and £50,000 a year. We talk to Jeremy Nixey of Alliance member Shaw Lifetime Care, part of the charitable Shaw Foundation, about the unique option they offer.