Our policy position

We live in a rapidly ageing society and this has implications for the economy‚ public services and the roles people play in the family and community.

Economic prosperity depends on sustaining high levels of employment and consumer spending as the share of older people rises. Older people’s roles in society as grandparents‚ carers‚ volunteers and in public life need to be supported‚ and they need to be involved in decisions that affect them.

Public services need to be reformed to respond to the needs of a growing and ever more diverse older population. Services need to be planned with demographic change and the needs of older people in mind‚ personalised to individuals’ views and needs‚ and focused particularly on the most disadvantaged. To deliver‚ local services need adequate funding and appropriate Government targets and oversight.

Age Concern works to influence the Government on how it shapes society‚ the economy and the future of public services. In particular‚ we push for a consistent approach from across government‚ rather than a series of unconnected initiatives. The Government’s Opportunity Age strategy is designed to ‘join-up’ all its work on ageing.

Grandparents

The role of grandparents and their contribution to society are becoming increasingly important. There are more grandparents than ever before‚ and extended families are increasingly encompassing several generations.

Grandparents may contribute:

childcare
economic resources
expertise
experience

Multi-generational families are creating changed patterns of behaviour‚ with increased economic transfers directly from grandparents to grandchildren‚ and grandchildren taking an increasing role in caring for grandparents.

Read our policy position on grandparents – please download the policy position paper from the top right-hand side of this page.