Councils routinely turn a blind eye to the needs of older people in their area according to new research by leading older people’s charity Help the Aged.

More than half the pensioner population allege their local council rarely or never asks their opinion on issues affecting them. 

It’s awful that so many older people feel ignored and let down by their local council. Older people often make huge contributions to their local community through volunteering to help others. Their years of experience should be valued, not dismissed.

As part of its ‘Just Equal Treatment’ campaign, Help the Aged is calling on local authorities to extend the public sector equality duty - which currently requires local authorities to promote equality between people of different race, gender and disability status - to include age so older people’s needs are taken into account in public services.

Amy Swan, policy officer for Help the Aged, says: 'It’s awful that so many older people feel ignored and let down by their local council.  Older people often make huge contributions to their local community through volunteering to help others. Their years of experience should be valued, not dismissed.   

'We live in an ageing society so it’s imperative that older people’s needs come high on the agenda for local authorities.  This needs to be more than just lip-service or the odd token gesture – when making decisions about public services, local authorities should be legally bound to consider the needs of people of all ages, including older people.

'All too often age is left off the equality agenda when disability, gender and race are, quite rightly, included. Extending the public sector equality duty to include age will ensure the needs of people of all ages are protected and that older people will no longer be ignored.'

The Communities and Local Government Empowerment White Paper is being published in the summer.   Help the Aged is also calling for:

• Local authorities to ensure people are treated equally by extending the public sector equality duty to include age.
• Local government and local councillors to reach out and listen to the views of the most excluded in the community and involve local representatives in decision making.
• Local authorities to show an awareness of the needs of all older people when developing their comprehensive engagement strategies.

Join Help the Aged's campaign for Just Equal Treatment