Our vision is of ... older people free from poverty and isolation

The older population of Northern Ireland is continuing to grow. In the next twenty years the number of people aged 50+ is projected to increase by 37%. HM Treasury estimates that the annual impact of this change in expenditure on health, long term care and pensions will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2030. This presents a significant public policy challenge which Northern Ireland must begin to plan for now.

Poverty levels amongst older people are increasing and 23% of older people in Northern Ireland live in poverty. 30% of women over 75 are living in poverty. Despite this, 34% of older people entitled to Pension Credit do not claim it. It is estimated that between £1.2m and £2.3m in benefits for older people remain unclaimed.

Older people in Northern Ireland continue to die unnecessarily during the winter months. In 2009-2010 there was an estimated increase of 756 winter deaths amongst older people. 62% of older people in Northern Ireland are living in fuel poverty.

Older people are treated unfairly in a number of areas, including insurance, health services and financial services. Difficulty in getting car insurance means that older people may pay higher premiums or may not be able to access cover at all. Age barriers in volunteering opportunities and public life (for example serving on juries) limit the full participation of older people in community life.  Age discrimination in goods, facilities and services is already illegal in Great Britain and in the Republic of Ireland. Older people in Northern Ireland are being left out. 

In order to realise our vision of a Northern Ireland where older people are safe and free from poverty and isolation, politicians and political parities should:

• Put forward legislation to ban age discrimination in Northern Ireland at the first opportunity.
• Implement a fundamental review of the social care system with a view to developing a modern and responsive care system. The health and social care system should have a great focus on preventative measures to enable older people to remain healthy and independent. There should be an end to age related or upper age limits for intervention.
• Set a clear target for the elimination of pensioner poverty, including fuel poverty and a timeline for achieving it.
• Provide automatic payment of Pension Credit for all entitled older people.
• Introduce mandatory social tariffs for older people in fuel poverty.