Ending digital exclusion for older people

Today Chief Executive Janet Morrison will be speaking at the Tackling the Social Exclusion of Older People Conference, presented by Capita. Her presentation will be on Empowering Older People through Digital Technology.

Social isolation and the feelings of loneliness it leads to are common problems for older people living in the UK today. Recent research reveals that a fear of being alone is a major source of anxiety as people grow older and that some older people go for days without seeing another person. However, communications technologies can help prevent and alleviate social isolation and loneliness. Despite this, nearly three in four over-65s have never used the internet.

'Too many older people are excluded from the benefits of online society,' says Janet Morrison. 'With the right support, older people will have the opportunity to use online services, offering them the chance to renew and develop social contacts and engage actively in their communities. The real and urgent need is for more appropriate services that reflect older people's interests and respond to their needs, including sustained, community-based training and support. This should lead to improved face-to-face contact and involvement in the community and a better quality of life.'

Holiday fun with Independent Age

If you're in London this December, come celebrate the holidays with us! We have events coming up to suit traditional carollers as well as dance-till-dawn types.

First up is the Christmas Boat Party, on Thursday 2 December, a fun night cruising the Thames with a DJ and silent auction. The boat sets off from Westminster Pier at 7.15 pm and returns at 11 pm. Tickets are £30, which includes a buffet and welcome drinks. Please email Jordan Trimby for tickets or more information.

That's followed by our annual Christmas Carol concert the following Thursday, 9 December, at St Michael's Church, Chester Square, London SW1W 9HH. This will be a festive evening of Christmas readings and carols, featuring the Tabard Singers and a new Independent Age vocal ensemble, followed by mince pies and wine. Please contact Harriet Steele for tickets or to find out more.

We hope to see you at either event, or both.

It never rains but it pours

by Claire Nurden, Research and Policy officer

Now the dust has begun to settle after the spending review, it seems that the effects will be more far-reaching and complex than many first thought. A broader understanding of the context that specific cuts will made in is essential to get a full grasp of the potential impact, and an idea of how devastating they could be for the most vulnerable older people in our society.

We already know that half of the £2billion earmarked for social care is not ring-fenced and could well be used to plug the gaps in other council funding. But questions are also now being raised about the other half – allocated as part of the health budget. While the NHS has been promised protection, in reality it has seen the smallest budget increase for fifteen years - and that in the face of the challenge of a rapidly ageing population and increasing need. What guarantees are there that the money for social care will be safe when demands for healthcare are rising?

And demand is indeed the issue here. We face a situation where unmet need resulting from cuts in social care and local services such as housing and leisure will drive demand in the health service, and vice versa. All of these services are inter-dependent and must be seen as such when gauging the full consequences of the cuts. Better integration is needed to properly weather the storm, but who will deliver this when cuts to middle-management make change a daunting prospect? It never rains but it pours...

State pension plans: Ferrari for Christmas or coal-filled stocking?

by Simon Bottery, Director of Fundraising, Policy and Communications

Everyone can have a Ferarri for Christmas because Santa's going to be more efficient with his elves: this is what we are supposed to believe about the coalition's apparent plans on the state pension. The idea that a higher pension for all can be achieved simply by getting rid of the costs of administering pension credit is, like Santa (look away children), a fantasy. Pension credit may be expensive to administer at around £50 per person, per year, but that amount of saving will barely get you a tank of petrol, let alone a supercar. Clearly the extra money for the superpension has to come from somewhere and until we know where we should avoid the temptation to look for garage space for that Ferrari. Almost as interesting is the question of who gave the story to the Daily Mail last Monday? Lib Dems in an attempt to spread some pre-Christmas cheer (the superpension is the brainchild of LibDem pensions minister Steve Webb)? Or Tories in an attempt to prevent it?