Age discrimination
Updated June 2006
Age discrimination exists in many areas of life and can prevent older people from accessing employment, goods and services and from taking an active role in society. Examples of discrimination older people may experience in the health and social care field include upper age limits for routine breast screening, ‘do not resuscitate’ orders being imposed without consent and lower levels of investment in services for older people.
A 2002 survey found that three out of four senior managers working in local authority health and social services believed that age discrimination occurred within their local services.[1]
Surveys of age discrimination in employment show that nine out of ten older people think that employers discriminate against them because of their age and one in four people have experienced age discrimination.[2]
In the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People the government has stated its aim of stopping age discrimination in health and social care.[3] The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 come into force on 1 October 2006. The regulations will ban age discrimination in terms of recruitment, promotion and training, ban unjustified retirement ages of below 65, and remove the age limit for unfair dismissal and redundancy rights. Furthermore, the Equality Act 2006 establishes the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, a single body with the duty of promoting equality, diversity and human rights, including age equality. Still more needs to be done, including implementing legislation to ban age discrimination in access to goods and services.
As well as implementing legislation to prevent age discrimination it is important that public attitudes to age are addressed. There are widespread misconceptions that stereotype older people and this can affect older people’s self-esteem and expectations, as well as other people’s attitudes towards them.
References:
[1] Roberts E, Robinson J & Seymour L (2002) Old habits die hard. London: King’s Fund.
[2] Help the Aged (2002) Age discrimination in public policy: A review of evidence. London: Help the Aged.
[3] Department of Health (2001) National service framework for older people. London: Department of Health.
Further information:
- Help the Aged - Fighting ageism
- Age Positive – Government campaign against age discrimination in employment
- National Service Framework for Older People