OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Age Concern Jersey President Sir David Kirch KBE & Age Concern Chairman Mrs Daphne Minihane MBE, DSG
The growing number of older people in Jersey gives us major opportunities for our society but, due to the current economic climate, older people are not finding it easy to pursue the aim of a better life. We are fortunate because we are living longer and leading healthier lives but, of course, with this change there are fresh challenges.
With little or no interest on savings over the past nine years, savings have dwindled and yet we are being asked to contribute more and more to the running of the Island through taxation and the means testing of benefits.
The States are currently looking at whether older people need to work longer and there is a possibility that in future years old age pensions will be lower or even non-existent.
Why has this happened? An ageing population has been on the cards for many, many years, and old people haven't just suddenly appeared from out of space. I was saddened when at one of our Senior Citizens meetings an older lady stood up and asked ‘What do they want us to do? Hold hands and walk into
the sea?’ Unfortunately, we have become the scapegoats, and members of the ageing population resent being constantly blamed for the present state of the economy.
There is no evidence in this Island of a positive approach to ageing and there are many opportunities for older people to fully participate in society and live fulfilling lives that are missed. It is not easy to grow old but as one 95 year old said with a twinkle in her eye, ‘It is better than the alternative!’ Sure, but society must allow older people to live and not just to exist. Believe it, there is a difference!
As we live longer so we can become more and more isolated, our peers pass away before us, our children decide to look
An Ageing Island Page 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116