community
Pensioners get nothing from 2.5% increase
Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget report statement means the basic state pension will go up by £2.40 a week even though the Retail Prices Index is in negative figures The Chancellor said: “For the first time in half a century the retail prices index has been negative for much of this year. Many benefits and tax credits... »
Ageism sends BBC presenter to China . . .
BBC News presenter Susan Osman, 51, claims that she has been forced to move to Beijing to escape the corporation’s ingrained “culture of ageism”. to take over a leading programme in China. Osman has worked in broadcasting for 28 years, presenting bulletins on BBC World and reporting for ITN News. She fronted the Bristol-based Points... »
Councils developing foot fetish?
Two district councils have recently been in the news for paying what some people see as inordinate attentions of the footware of people over 50. The Daily Telegraph highlighted Warwickshire County Council’s offer of a service allowing “older people” to bring in their old slippers and replace them with a new pair, which it claims... »
Oldies friendlier than youngers?
New research released today reveals that older people outshine younger generations when it comes to keeping in touch with neighbours. It’s the over-65s who are more likely to chat in person to someone on their street (82 per cent). In contrast, amongst people aged 18-24s just 44 per cent speak to their... »
Scrap MPs Pension Scheme, says columnist
Telegraph columnist Nina Montagu-Smith has called for the scrapping of Members of Parliament’s final salary pension scheme, which allows them to build up a pension of £8,000 pa after just 5 years in office. This equates the income an ordinary citizen could expect from a personal pension pot of around £250,000 Five years as an... »
Insurance – loyalty doesn’t pay!
A recent article in The Guardian newspaper has reminded everyone how important it is to have a regular look-around at your insurance policies – if you’ve just renewed each year for a few years with the same insurer, you’re likely to be overpaying for the cover you get. The news story quoted a number of... »
More plan to work past 65
There has been a steep rise in the number of older workers who plan to work beyond the state pension age, research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has revealed. Their Employee Outlook survey of 2,000 working people found that the proportion of people aged 55 and above planning to work beyond the... »
Scottish homecare costs rise
The cost of providng free care for the elderly in Scotland has risen by 11 per cent in the last year to a total of £358 million, with expenditure on elderly people living in their own homes up 15 per cent in the last year, and almost double what it was four years ago. The... »
Dementia week on Radio 2
This week is Dementia Week on BBC Radio 2, with broadcaster Jeremy Vine looking at aspects of dementia, as an illness and as a social problem. On Monday, Jeremy was joined by Radio 2’s GP, Dr Sarah Jarvis to discuss whether dementia is preventable. Dr Jarvis looked at what things may contribute to dementia, including... »
Retirement housing firm apology over ‘dribbling geriatrics’ comment
A retirement housing firm was forced to apologise yesterday after its spokesman described elderly people as “dribbling geriatrics” on live television. Ian Rapley, of Consensus Business Group which manages retirement complexes, appeared on BBC Breakfast to rebut claims by residents that their service charges were being increased with little justification or consultation. Challenged over his... »
