Policy Press

Unequal ageing

The untold story of exclusion in old age

Edited by Paul Cann and Malcolm Dean

Published

Sep 2, 2009

Page count

192 pages

ISBN

978-1847424112

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 2, 2009

Page count

176 pages

ISBN

978-1847424129

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 2, 2009

Page count

192 pages

ISBN

978-1447300595

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Sep 2, 2009

Page count

192 pages

ISBN

978-1447300601

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Unequal ageing

This powerful book analyses the vital dimensions of money, health, place, quality of life and identity, and demonstrates the gaps of treatment and outcomes between older and younger people, and between different groups of older people. Written by leading experts in the field, it provides strong evidence of the scale of current disadvantage in the UK and suggests actions that could begin to change the picture of unequal ageing.

'Unequal ageing' is aimed at all those with a serious interest in the unprecedented challenge of our ageing society. It will be of importance to policy-makers, opinion-formers, and above all to older people themselves. 

"I have rarely come across a book on the included subjects so well written that I did not want to put it down until it was read to the end". Susan Venn in Ageing & Society

"Edited by experts in ageing and social affairs, this book provides a thought-provoking text based on evidence of the disadvantages to which older adults may be exposed and suggests a useful range of actions that could be taken to address inequalities." Susan Holmes in Nursing Standard

"...as a shout of rage against the injustices of getting old, the book should come to the attention of those wanting the votes of Britain's 20 million older people in the coming election." John Perry in 'Housing'

"Unequal Ageing is a must-read for everyone concerned with growing imbalances in care and support of the older person. With chapter contributions from leaders in their fields, this book examines the inequalities experienced by ageing populations from a variety of perspectives - let us hope policy makers and informers read, absorb and take remedial action." Alex Mair, Chief Executive, British Geriatrics Society

"This is a book for our times: its wisdom and thoughtfulness will help us all adjust to life's changing patterns." Dame Joan Bakewell, Voice of Older People

Paul Cann is former Director of Policy at Help the Aged. He is now Chief Executive of Age Concern, Oxfordshire. At Help the Aged he brought together research and policy, and he was particularly involved in Help the Aged's work on pensioner poverty, social exclusion and care issues.

Malcolm Dean worked on The Guardian for 38 years as a roving reporter, social affairs leader-writer and an assistant editor. He served on the Carnegie Commission on the Third Age, wrote the layperson's guide to the ESRC's Growing Older programme, and chaired a Joseph Rowntree commission on older people. He retired from The Guardian in 2006 to take up a fellowship at Nuffield College, Oxford, where he is writing a book on the media's influence on social policy.

Contents: Step back and look: the reality of unequal ageing ~ Paul Cann; Poverty of pocket: unequal spending power ~ Tom Scharf; Poverty of place: unequal places to grow old ~ Sue Adams; Poverty of health: unequal wellbeing, ~ Anna Coote; Poverty of experience: unequal quality of life ~ Brian Appleyard; Poverty of identity: unequal humanity ~ Julia Neuberger; Causes of inequality ~ Author tbc; Joining in: conclusions and calls for action ~ Paul Cann.