Ending Age Discrimination in Health and Social Care
The Government has commissioned a national review of age discrimination in health and social care. The Review team is keen to hear the views of Dignity Champions on how to tackle age discrimination. In particular, it would interesting to hear about-
Where are the biggest issues / problems?
What the most important causes of age discrimination?
Examples of good, age-appropriate practice
What three things would you change to tackle age discrimination and to make age equality happen?
The single most important factor in age discrimination in my opinion is 'age attitude and values'.
Age is a matter of ability..there is a misconseption that as we age we are less able. The aging population are viewed as a potential 'drain on the health and social services' . Why is this? Simply because they are seen as 'unproductive'.. non contributers.
The answer I believe is in employment. In a rapidly Demographically it makes sense to give people the option of whether to retire at 65years or not. This makes economic sense.Employees no matter what age have to proved ability and competence through performance reviews. These should be mandatory and well regulated to ensure the person employed is 'fit for the job', but by the same token the employee has the right to prove their worth and make their case in the right to work, irrespective of age.
Research has shown people who stay employed not only remain healthier but their mental ability is sustained longer; also to be considered that 'older employees have proved to be vaulable in the work place with less sickness rate, which of course is good for economic growth.
We can not sustain a welfare state without a workforce.. it is very important that we consider and address the issue of ageism in the workforce and this in turn will address ageism in social and health care services. It's about VALUE, that is the key word.
Jackie Brown BSc health and Social Studies
Jackie I am attaching the research undertaken by Liverpool John Moores University. That highlights all the issues you are raising.
Associated files and links:
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gender discrimination and ageist perceptions final report.pdf
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As a senior mental health social worker (ill health retirement 1999 and now a service user) I and some colleagues were campaigning since the 1980s about the discrimination experienced by people over 65 by the split in mental health services: 16 to 65 and 65+. This meant that those under 65 received a (nearly) complete range of holistic services and those over 65 were denied these.
Through my activities as a service user today, both nationally (Shaping our Lives, NALM, NSUN, PPlog (http://micoxpplog.blogspot.com) and locally, LINks, NCODP, EDC, advocacy, I am aware that these practices survive in some trusts and local authorities. This institutional discrimination can also be exacerbated by the threshold criteria levels used by public authorities. Please outlaw these examples of gross discrimination in the Bill.