The Daily Echo 19 April 07

Written by Sandra Gidley MP on Thu 19th Apr 2007

One of my favourite poems is "Warning - When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple" by Jenny Joseph. Basically, the poem describes how the writer secretly plans to grow old disgracefully but there is an undercurrent which hints at the fact that society doesn't really take old people too seriously.

Since 2006 there has been legislation which supposedly prevents discrimination against older people in employment. The national press expressed a week or so of mock indignation that people were on the scrap heap at 60. The very same newspapers, only a couple of weeks later, were suggesting that a political party leader in his 60s might be too old. We are a society that no longer seems to value wisdom and experience.

Older people are discriminated against in many ways that would be totally unacceptable if the target was black, female, disabled or gay. When it comes to providing goods, facilities and services it is still legal to discriminate against older people. The Equality Act 2006 did nothing to tackle the problem and was a missed opportunity.

Discrimination manifests itself in many forms. Insurance can be more expensive and it may be difficult to go on holiday at all because of age limits on holiday insurance. In the NHS too many practitioners adopt a "what do you expect at your age" attitude rather than looking at the individual. A fit 75 year old with a healthy lifestyle can often be a better bet than a 60 year old who has not looked after them self so well. Some treatments and diagnostic tests are also rationed by age.

Older people are frequently made fun of in advertising and light entertainment shows and rarely front popular entertainment shows despite being witty, accomplished and glamorous. A classic example of this is the recent decision to axe Moira Stuart. The decision appears to have been made because of age rather than any decline in ability. Similar decisions have been by Radio Solent when popular presenters were axed - although those who made the decision refuted the allegation that age was a factor.

When Jenny Joseph grows old she is also going to "learn to spit". It's no surprise that many pensioners are spitting mad and will be lobbying Westminster on Wednesday. MPs should take note and act because, one day, we will all be old too.

Published with kind permission of the Daily Echo