Office for Civil Society and Nesta announce 3 new grant funds to explore how more charities and public services can better tap into the skills and experience of volunteers over 50. With life expectancy in the UK increasing, a valuable opportunity has opened up for greater numbers of volunteers to share their skills and talents with others in later life - offering a rewarding experience for both sides. Today the Office for Civil Society and Nesta, the innovation foundation, have...Read more

Caring for as little as five hours a week can have a significant impact on employment prospects, with those caring for more than 10 hours a week at marked risk of leaving the labour market altogether, costing the economy an estimated £1.3 billion, according to new analysis by Age UK and Carers UK. Published today in a joint report Walking the tightrope, the analysis shows the devastating impact that caring for loved ones can have on people’s working lives and...Read more

Combination of inadequate support and lack of awareness from communities is damaging life chances of UK’s carers The life chances of many of the 6.5 million people in the UK who care, unpaid, for a disabled, older or ill family member or friend, are being damaged by inadequate support from local services, according to new research launched today for Carers Week 2016. CW research report 2016What’s more, when carers face a lack of understanding about their caring role from the...Read more

The death rate soars to the highest rate for nearly 50 years The ONS have published their latest (preliminary) mortality reports citing the annual death rate is the highest for 48 years with as total of 528,340 registered deaths a rise of 5.4% equating to nearly 27,000 on the previous year. The release of the data has led to experts warning of a crisis in care for the elderly. Though the reports over the years have been of dramatically falling...Read more

CQC inspections analysed - a unique care homes league table puts Milton Keynes Council at the top The Care Quality Commission’s State of Care report offers an indispensable overview of the quality of a whole range of health and care services across England. CQC ratings have become much more telling now, based as they are on ‘aspirational’ Fundamental Standards of care which are on the way to replacing the old ‘bare minimum’ Essential Standards. With its extensive remit, however, it...Read more

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More than half of the UK’s over 50s are not confident that they will get the care they will need Marie Curie calls for Government action More than half (53%) of the UK’s over 50s – that equates to 12.4 million people – are not confident that they will get the care they need towards the end of their life, according to a new survey commissioned by Marie Curie. Only 5% of people over 50 surveyed by YouGov felt ‘very...Read more

Festive cheer abandons nearly three million older people this year Gogglebox stars join campaign to tackle loneliness A quarter of all over-65s – nearly three million people [i] – are not looking forward to Christmas this year, with around 550,000 of those saying it’s because the festive season brings back too many memories of loved ones who have passed away, according to new polling for Age UK. The research, part of the Charity’s No one should have no one at...Read more

Latest statistics shows working age women age 50 to 64 are more likely to be in employment than at any time in the past 30 years. Pensions Minister Baroness Altmann has hailed the role of Britain’s older workers in the country’s economic recovery, as new figures show increasing numbers in employment. Statistics released today show that working age women (aged 50 to 64) are more likely to be in employment than at any time in the past 30 years, with...Read more

Strong link between health and relationships If you’ve witnessed at first hand a loved one who’s battled back from ill health, a new report indicates that the chances of a successful recovery may well lie in your relationship as much as your medical care? As published by Relate (the UK's largest provider of relationship support) a new study by Duke University in the United States suggests a link between relationship breakdown and heart attacks.Helen Undy, Public Affairs and Campaigns Manager...Read more