Help the Aged is holding a series of five policy seminars in partnership with The Guardian on the theme of unequal ageing.

Each seminar will explore a specific aspect of exclusion or poverty experienced by older people in specific areas of daily life.

Poverty of Pocket: Unequal Consumers 
Early October 2008 - central London

This seminar will examine the future of pensioner poverty, taking research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies as its starting point. It will contrast the likely disparity of experience between those who enjoy good pensions, housing wealth and high disposable incomes with those whose lives have delivered only basic incomes, or retirement incomes well below what they expected (eg. divorced women). 

Poverty of Place: Unequal Places to Grow Old
Early December – Central London

This seminar will explore what are the key elements of an elder-friendly community. It will touch on issues of location (urban vs rural), the built environment, transport, social networks, services and amenities. It will particularly explore views held by those who see the built environment and design as the main component of an elder-friendly community with those who place a greater emphasis on family and human interaction.

Poverty of Health: Taking Care of an Ageing Population
Mid January – Central London

Health inequalities start early in life and continue into old age. The causes of health inequalities are complex but those living on low incomes are more likely to suffer ill health than the affluent and are less likely to be able to buy coping strategies (e.g. private health care).

This seminar will explore how the NHS and social care can respond to changing needs to prevent a growing divide between the health ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ as the population ages and the incidence of ill health grows.

Poverty of Identity: What Does it Mean to be ‘Old’? 
Early February – Central London

This seminar will explore how ageing impacts on personal and social constructions of identity and how, if at all, society affords people the right to be ‘old’. It will link age discrimination to notions of identity.

A Life Worth Living: Unequal Quality of Life in Age
Early March – Central London

Most people enjoy taking part in cultural, sporting and other activities as part of an active, fulfilled life. Having things to occupy time contributes to a sense of wellbeing. Some people want to continue working beyond the official retirement age. Too often, older people are denied access to the things that fulfil them as they age.

This seminar will focus on what constitutes ‘the good life’, why it is important to a continued sense of wellbeing and how to widen access to it for older people.

For further details please email Tina Chignoli