Helen Mirren has shared that age discrimination “needs a change” after new research suggested a third of people over 65 are underage.
The 79-year-old actress said the discrimination was sad and unfair as millions in the UK have had negative experiences due to their age.
The charity, for which Dame Helen is an ambassador, found that a third of people aged 65 and over and almost a quarter of people aged 50 to 64 in England said they had been discriminated against because of their age, according to your analysis.
Using demographic statistics and an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging, the charity suggested that around 6.1 million people aged 50 and over in England face age discrimination.
The charity said one in six women aged 50 and over said they had experienced sexism, with more than half of them from minority ethnic backgrounds in this age group. Racial or religious discrimination.
Helen Mirren, 79, has shared that ageism “must change”, with new research showing a third of people over 65 are ageist (pictured in January).
After Age UK published its report, the actress said it was “sad and unfair” to be discriminated against, suggesting that millions of people have had negative experiences because of their age (Helen pictured in 1974).
Age UK has called for “the population to age rapidly and age discrimination to be high” and to change attitudes, tackle poverty and inequality and ensure that the health and social needs of older people are “recognised and fully met.” “.
Dame Helen said: “Aging happens to us all, but as we get older, life becomes more difficult.” “A lot of people will be treated differently, which is not only very sad but also unfair.”
“Everyone, regardless of their age, should feel included and valued, and that is what the UK strives to achieve.”
He concluded: “This is an ambitious but really important challenge because things need to change and it is in all of our interests to ensure that older people are respected and treated as individuals.”
The charity said it is estimated that by 2040 more than 40% of people in England will be over 50, and more than five million will be aged 80 or over. Our seniors are an asset and the challenges they face need to be addressed.
The “large inequalities” in the income of UK pensioners mean that only a minority live on a moderate or comfortable income (17%), while the majority live on minimal income or live in poverty (82%).
Age UK, which has heavily criticized the government's plan to limit winter fuel payments only to pensioners, has previously said that 2.5 million pensioners across the UK who will lose their payments this year will suffer financially, with 1 .6 million in poverty and 900,000 people. Income is slightly above the poverty line.
They also highlighted that 71% of disabled pensioners would not pay winter fuel bills, despite many having higher energy costs due to health or disability problems.
“Everyone, regardless of their age, should feel included and valued, which is what the UK is trying to achieve,” said Helen (Image 2023).
Paul Farmer, chief executive of the charity, said: “Society plays a huge role in how we view older people and older people in our society and, consequently, how we feel about our age when it's our turn. “.
“We hope that by improving society's vision, future generations will be better prepared for the challenges that aging can bring and will enter adulthood with opportunities to make the most of it.”
“Our ultimate goal should be for older people to be respected and included – to change the way we age.”
He added: “We need to think more about aging as a country and how best to respond to it, and also in government, business and other sectors.”
“If we do not do so, we are entering a national crisis and we cannot ignore the facts or the consequences of inaction.”
“Together with climate change and the technological revolution, aging is one of the great global trends that will increasingly affect us.”
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “The reality is that we would all benefit from a more balanced and informed view of aging and older people.”
As easy as we may seem to “dismiss” the enormous contributions that people in their fifties, sixties and older make, our country would benefit too.
