Last Updated on July 18, 2017

Independent Age has published a new report on overcoming the barriers to a better later life, which looks at the most prominent issues facing older people.

By 2030, there will be double the number of people aged 85 or older compared with 2010. Yet we still have a very long way to go before the oldest in our society are given all the support they need to remain independent and live healthy, enjoyable lives. Independent Age says that time has come for policymakers to take firm action and help the UK to get ready for rapid demographic change.

Independent Age’s 2030 Vision is that the UK should become the best country to grow older in. However, it says that life at present is not as universally positive or rewarding for older people as some commentators would have us believe. Older people have to fight to be heard and have their needs recognised. They can struggle to get the most basic support and can often feel like they are battling a system that is set up to complicate things and present barriers to getting help. Independent Age says that adequate support is needed to help older people prepare for and manage the setbacks and challenges old age can bring.

In The obstacle course: overcoming the barriers to a better later life, Independent Age shares some of its own evidence, including stories from older people and their family members. It focuses on the obstacles that need removing so older people and their carers can access the most basic services and support.

The testimonies reveal what a difference early intervention can make, as well as where things are going wrong. The inescapable conclusion is that we are still not responding well enough, as a country, for a rapidly ageing population and remain underprepared. Independent Age is clear that it is the job of policymakers to act.