1. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Age and Alcohol in the South West A Double Whammy Faith Davey South West Regional Manager Age Concern and Help the Aged

2. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people The South West has….  Nearly 40% of its population aged over 50  The highest proportion of people aged 65 and over in England (21% - 950,000)  The highest proportion of people aged 85 and over in England  304,000 people over 80  Longest life expectancy in England (M 77.4yrs, F 81.8yrs)  The highest proportion of pensioner-only households (27%)

3. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people The South West has….  More people in SW claiming retirement pension only - 739,000 households  High proportion of older adults living in rural and coastal areas  Empty second homes mean many live in isolation for much of the year  Difficulties in accessing services, transport and other facilities  3,600 excess winter deaths for over 65s in 08/09 (54.8% increase)

4. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Add to that…  SW councils least well prepared for an ageing population (Don’t Stop Me Now, 2008, Audit Commission)  The lowest Local Authority Standard Spending Assessment of all English regions  The lowest rate of people receiving community care services  The lowest number of Supporting People funded places for older people per 100,000 over 65  A higher proportion of older people hospital in-patient episodes

5. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Social Isolation and Quality of Life People in the SW 65+ say:  their lives are not as full and active as they would like - 45%  they leave the house on average twice a week or less – 10%  they worry about the future all the time – 7%  they are worried about the future and this is affecting their physical health - 51%  they are always or often lonely – 14%  those who plan services (eg care, transport) do not pay enough attention to the views and needs of older people – 47%

6. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Same but different  Not a homogenous group  Often assumptions made do not reflect reality  Age-based assumptions and categorisation by age can inadvertently influence service planning and delivery  People do things in different ways for different reasons  Affected by personal, social and economic circumstances  It may not be useful to define older people’s over use of alcohol as primarily a health problem

7. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people ‘D Changes in later life often seen as opportunities Children leaving home Grandchildren More leisure Voluntary work Renewed interests Leaving paid employment Moving to smaller house Changes that can lead to dependency Falling income Living alone Lack of car ownership Mental health needs Chronic heath conditions Bereavement Social care needs

8. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Age Concerns in the South West There are 43 Age Concerns across the South West who offer a wide range of services to: combat poverty reduce isolation and social exclusions improve health and well-being deliver care services

9. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Befriending Information & Advice Computer classes Home Care Choirs Walking groups Tai Chi Volunteering Men in Sheds Lunch Clubs Shopping schemes Handyperson schemes Housing support Hospital Aftercare Clean Sweep Swimming Footcare Day Care Yoga Craft sessions Outings Holidays Tea dances

10. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Age Concern Brighton, Hove and Portslade: research  Social relationships  Loss  Relationship between current and previous lifestyle  Financial impacts  Health, well-being and growing older  Responsibility, and maintaining control and independence

11. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Age Concern Bristol : Housing Support Service  Floating support funded by Supporting People  Contract renegotiated to include 20% clients who misuse alcohol  Two camps – habitual drinkers and those who drink because of changes to life circumstances  Reluctance to engage with ‘treatment’ services  Project engages with health, housing, drug and alcohol and community care services  Advocates, mediates and ‘battles’ on client’s behalf

12. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people Face up to difficult issues or look the other way?  A concern not to be seen as judging people’s behaviour  Discomfort with making judgements on individuals’ drinking patterns and levels  “We have to let them [older people] make up their own minds”.  Not intervening may be seen as an example of respecting people’s autonomy  But also showing proper concern for health and general welfare,

13. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people A question of balance Older people’s rights to make their own decisions about how they live their lives needs to be balanced by an ethic of care that recognises vulnerable people may need help to determine how their needs might best be met. Dialogue with the older person concerned has the potential to enable exploration of a difficult issue and a shared decision-making approach to seeking solutions

14. Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form Age UK, a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people www.ageconcern.org.uk www.helptheaged.org.uk Faith.davey@ace.org.uk