On Thursday, in Florida, the International Council on Active Ageing holds its annual conference, attracting 9,000 members from 37 countries. It was among the first to recognise the economic potential of millions of baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, now approaching the final third of their lives. Some will continue to work because they wish to or have no choice. Others are involuntarily unemployed. In the UK, some, from next year, will have access to their pension pots without the need to buy an annuity, giving them resources to spend when, and on what, they wish.
Norfolk’s carers missing out on help
Dan Grimmer Wednesday, November 12, 2014
7:28 AM
Vast numbers of Norfolk’s 95,000 strong army of carers are not getting the support they are entitled to, social services bosses have admitted.
Organiser Les Eve(left) welcomes carers to the Carers Week main event at Costessey Community Centre. Photo by Simon Finlay.
Norfolk County Council officers have conceded there are “significant issues” around support to unpaid carers, of which there are an estimated 94,700 in the county.
Those carers, many of whom are looking after loved ones, save the NHS and other public services an estimated £1.6bn a year by using their time to help others.
The Observer view on the future facing Britain’s ageing population
With imagination, we can all benefit from the baby boomers’ talents
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- The Observer,
Britain’s ageing population has talents that can be utilised to their own, and society’s, benefit.
- The Observer,
Norfolk and Suffolk mental health cuts ‘devastating’
Norfolk and Suffolk’s NHS mental health services merged in 2012 and must save about £40m over four years
Funding cuts in Norfolk and Suffolk show the government is failing to put mental and physical health on an equal footing, campaigners say.
Mainstream hospitals in the two counties have seen budgets rise by 15% since 2010, while mental health service funding has fallen by 3%.
The Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk said the cuts were “devastating”.
