Page 5, 8th September 1978

8th September 1978

Page 5

Page 5, 8th September 1978 — Too many elderly reluctant to claim their benefits
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Too many elderly reluctant to claim their benefits

Hugh Faulkner (below), Director of Help the Aged, discusses the problems of retirement.
IN TODAY'S SOCIETY people are so often judged not by their worth, but by their wealth or their ability to "bring home the bacon". The young and beautiful are always used as models whether the advertiser wants to sell cars or cosmetics.
When we look at incomes we are constantly assured by members of the Government that the elderly are doing better than others. Their retirement pension is going up to keep pace with inflation, but few ask themselves whether they could live on the retirement pension.
In fact, the Government is, in spite of its protestations, admitting that the retirement pension is insufficient to support life, as anyone who has only the retirement pension to live on is eligible for supplementary only the retirement pension to live on is eligible for supplementary benefit. The elderly belong to proud generations, and too many are reluctant to request supplementary benefits.
Poorest housing
There are an estimated 750,000 people eligible but not claiming these benefits. To the younger ones among us more used to government allowances, this may seem folly, but we have to understand that to older people asking for extra money from any government department still has the overtones of the Poor Law.
But we must do all we can to persuade the elderly to claim their rights. We must remember that the pension comes at a time when physical fitness may be declining.
We must also remember that the old live in the poorest housing; 30 per cent live in houses built before 1919, only 22 per cent have central heating, and over 16 per cent have only an outside lavatory. Only 10 per cent have a private car at a time when public transport is dwindling.
For years medical care has been geared to providing better care for children, for expectant mothers and for the working population. The elderly have had to take a back scat. Most people going to see theinGP, if they are over 70, will have many of their, illnesses put down to "old age".
Yet those who have specialised in geriatric medicine tell us that there is no such disease as "old age". An elderly man suffering a stroke may well be left to get over it as best he can, yet we know that, given proper facilities, he could well become an active, happy member of society.
Some of our old people's homes are a disgrace. The standard of care for the old people is excellent. They are warm, well-fed, well-housed, sleeping in comfortable beds. Yet their spirits are killed. As a form of selfdefence they retreat into their own world where they are cut off from present-day reality.
Those of us who have seen the large rooms with the high-backed chairs against the walls and the people just looking into space must feel that we are in some horrible hell. Yet this is how many of our elderly people tend to end their days.
Of course, there are inspired people who have brought light and hope into such homes, but we have a long way to go if we are to give our frail, elderly people a chance to live, rather than exist, for the last years of their lives.
There are many thousands who are just not able to adjust to retirement. They need work, and need to feel wanted by the community. We must get rid of the iniquitous earnings rule whereby a retired person loses part or all of his pension if he earns more than £45 a week.
Anyone who has worked up to the age of 60 or 65 feels that he has earned this pension and that it is his by right.
What can the Christian community do to put so many wrongs right? First, stimulate progressive thought and constructive action. Of course there is bound to be a backlash from the retired population sooner or later, especially as those who are more used to demanding their "rights" reach retirement age.
Strong lobby
In the United States there has been the growth of the Grey Panther Movement. It may be that our own retired population should get rid of some of their energy and frustrations in forming themselves into a strong political lobby to demand higher basic pensions.
After all, there are already 9.5 million of them, and there will be 10.5 million within the next ten years. This could strike fear into the hearts of politicians.
But I would rather see such a lobby co-operating with the Government and agencies trying to build a better life for the elderly in a more constructive way. Those of us who look to the older generation for help, guidance and strength would really rather not see them waving banners and demanding more money.
Governments always produce figures to show us that there is just not any more money in the kitty for higher pensions. But do they say this when a new multimillion pound road needs to be built?
Do they say this when a large and expensive fleet of tanks become obsolete, and many, many millions more are needed for further production of weapons which are known to be potentially obsolete before they are aoof the drawing board? Here is a n area where christians must comment.
Out next priority must surely be in the field of housing, through improvement grants to old property, through the building of more sheltered housing, and better use of existing housing stock.
We must take much more seriously the need to insulate and provide heating allowances, not only for those who are on supplementary benefit, but for those who need help with their heating, and we must remember that most of the poorest among us are those whose income takes them just over the line where they Can apply for supplementary benefit.
Consequently they are denied the extra allowances for heating, diet, clothing and so on, which are available to those who qualify for supplementary benefit.
We must enable the elderly to work to continue to be productive members of the community. We all know how our church societies depend on the elderly acting as officials. We have to remember that most of the community do not attend a place of worship and they need our special care and attention.
Sheltered workshops and day centres are an answer for a large number of old people. Here they can find not only companionship, but can in a small way supolenient their pension.
Much to offer
We must have employment bureaux. In fact, we must change the whole attitude of the community to the aged where work is concerned. They are not witless and unemployable. They are people with a lifetime of experience behind them who still have an enormous amount to offer.
We must ensure that doctors, nurses and others in the National Health Service understand the problems of old people. We need doctors educated in geriatric medicine. For the very frail elderly we must organise our old people's homes so that they can play as full a part as possible in caring for themselves and each other.
Even a person confined to a wheelchair can help lay tables for lunch. And joining with others in even the simplest of chores has shown that this terrifying barrier which individuals', put around themselves can be broken down.
The rights of' old people begin with you and me. Do we cherish the elderly within our families, our neighbourhoods, our churches? Do we ensure that they are living an abundant life, Or are we, like governments, too busy ensuring that our economic position is right to bother with those who possibly have nothing to contribute in the economic field?
It is only when individuals and groups, and especially churches, listen to the voices of the elderly that we shall get a happy, balanced society.




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