How Age Concern Cymru should ‘regard different things differently’ in developing and implementing its equality agenda Julie Maldoom

Age Discrimination UN principles of ageing What is ageism? Age discrimination –Direct –Indirect Social model of age discrimination –Attitudinal barriers –Environmental barriers –Systematic/Institutional barriers

Barriers Attitudinal –Direct discrimination –Indirect discrimination Environmental –Direct discrimination –Indirect discrimination Systematic/Institutional –Direct discrimination –Indirect discrimination

Attitudinal Barriers What are they? How do we break them down? Current social images of older people: –The Deficit Model –The Heroic Model The Real Deal

Environmental Barriers What are they? How do we break them down? Housing Homelessness Transport Local Area

Systematic/Institutional Barriers What are they? How do we break them down? Employment –The Age Discrimination Legislation –Other issues Lifelong Learning Healthcare –Life/health insurance –Health care priorities –Preventative health Pensions

Diversity What barriers do diverse groups face? How do we tackle them? Race/cultural diversity LGBT Disabled people Gender Carers

Conclusion Age discrimination is multi-faceted Needs a multi-faceted equalities approach –Research –Campaigning –Innovation –Positive action –Developing resources –Awareness training –Awareness raising

Finally An end to age discrimination? –Introduction of Single Equalities Bill –Commissioner for Older People in Wales –Through partnership working, in participation of older people “Nothing about us without us, Nothing about me without me.”