Charities criticise Government’s continued failure to plan for our ageing society
The Ready for Ageing Alliance (R4AA), a group of national charities which includes Alzheimer’s Society, has called the Government’s progress in planning for an ageing population “incredibly disappointing”.
The Ready for Ageing Alliance (R4AA), a group of national charities which includes Alzheimer’s Society, has called the Government’s progress in planning for an ageing population “incredibly disappointing”.
In a new report, Still Not Ready For Ageing, R4AA argues that Government action has stalled. The report highlights:
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Our economy loses billions due to underemployment of older people who would prefer to keep working
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Social care reform has stalled while the gap between needs and resources continues to widen
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If left unchecked, major staffing shortages in the short term are storing up even bigger problems for the future
Responding to this, George McNamara, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “More people are living for longer, and we cannot continue to shy away from the consequences of that. By 2051 there will be 2 million people living with dementia, meaning that even more family members will be forced to either give up work early to provide unpaid care or dip into savings in order to afford it.
“It’s crucial that there is support readily available to help people with dementia and their families plan ahead. Already, vulnerable people are being denied basic levels of daily care. If the government fails to act now, we risk facing a future even the bleakest dystopian novel would not predict.”
