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Why?
Securing the inclusion of older people in all aspects of social life is dependent upon challenging ageism and the age discriminatory practices that form barriers to older people’s participation. Thus, participation and empowerment provide the key bedrocks of Age Concern Cymru’s approach to equality.
Older people represent the most discriminated groups in society. Age discrimination is the most prevalent form of discrimination, with 29% of adults reporting they have suffered from some form of age discrimination. Age discrimination is higher than other forms of discrimination such as race or gender.
In recent research nearly a half of people interviewed thought that employers do no like employing older people as it spoils their image. Recent research shows that older people are assumed to be incompetent or incapable. From being denied access to paid work, travel and vehicle insurance to experiencing poorer levels of care and denied benefits and support, older people are not only missing out but are also put in dangerous and sometimes life threatening situations all because of their date of birth.
There are also some blatant forms of age discrimination in how people are treated when accessing health and social care services. At the age of 65, people may be transferred from ‘adult’ mental health services to services for older people often focused primarily on dementia care. Age Concern Cymru believes that clinical need should always come before any judgements on how well a person is able to benefit from a particular treatment.
The Human Rights Act applies to all public bodies. However, it does not comply to private providers commissioned by public bodies. So older people who are living in private care establishments who are most in need and most vulnerable are not being protected.
Another way in which older people report discrimination is through the media and how society in general views them. Incompetent and incapable were the findings from recent research which echoed similar findings in America where older people were characterised as ‘doddery but dear’. The research also found that older people were viewed as pitable and rarely enviable. | 
