Grey voters tighten their grip on the ballot box
The UK electorate will age rapidly over the coming generation. Much has been written about the public spending pressures from this ageing population, but the ability of the growing numbers of older voters to exercise power at the ballot box is rarely mentioned.
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(Source: Yorkshire Post)
Poor elderly people are twice as likely to die as the richest
Poorer women between 60 and 74 were six times more likely to have died than the richest women of the same age.
The research, published by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), shows the risk of death decreased as wealth increased.
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(Source: Telegraph)
Older workers trump 'Generation Y' in happiness and fulfilment stakes
New research findings from the sixth Vodafone UK Working Nation report say that older people are the happiest and most motivated workers in Britain, with satisfaction levels soaring above those in their twenties, thirties and early forties.
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(Source: Trading Markets)
Councils unprepared for England's ageing population
The Audit Commissions new report, Don't stop me now: Preparing for an ageing population, published 17 July, has found that councils in England, particularly those which have the fastest ageing populations, are not ready to meet the challenges or grasp opportunities as we get older.
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(Source: 24dash.com)
Spoof retirement letters sent to MPs by Employers Forum on Age
MPs have received spoof retirement letters as the Employers Forum on Age (EFA) ramps up its campaign to scrap the default retirement age.
The format replicates the standard notice of retirement that thousands of UK workers receive when they reach 65 - regardless of whether they wish to cease employment or not.
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(Source: Personnel Today)
When silver turns to gold
For at least a decade, British internet users aged 50 or over have been labelled "silver surfers". While this was initially a neat way of classifying the older generations when examining their online activity, the picture in 2008 is very different.
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(Source: Marketing Week)
Petrol prices soaring, but over 50s won't give up driving
The cost of fuel has reached unprecedented heights, with reports of petrol now costing around £1.20 a litre in certain parts of the UK.
Yet in spite of this, and the effect that the rising cost of living is having on household budgets all over the country, the over 50s are determined to keep their cars on the road, according to new research commissioned by RIAS, insurance specialists for the over 50s.
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(Source: Easier Motoring)
Easy site clicks with older generation
A new website aims to bring the internet to life for people more familiar with their pension book than Facebook.
Finerday.com was dreamt up by former care home manager Lilla Harris and Brighton-based entrepreneur Harry Bashford.
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(Source: The Argus)
Employers taking a bigger role in retirement planning
Employers will have an increasing role in the financial education of their workers, with more than three-quarters (73%) wanting to offer help to their staff, according to Watson Wyatt.
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(Source: Global Pensions)
MPs require more guidance on older workforce
Many MPs are unaware of the barriers facing older workers, a survey has revealed.
The survey, carried out by The Age and Employment Network (TAEN), questioned 88 MPs about their experiences of age and employment issues in their constituencies and only 39% were aware of barriers such as lack of access to training, lack of suitable employment to match skills, forced retirement, the impact of migrant workers and age discrimination.
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(Source: HR Zone)
Pensioners cannot 'afford to retire'
More than a million pensioners are now working as the rising cost of living means they cannot afford to retire.
Official statistics show men over 65 and women over 60 are the fastest-growing group in the workforce.
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(Source: Daily Telegraph)
Age and employment: the grey army grows mightier every day
When you look at the latest figures on the British workforce, it becomes very clear that retirement has changed beyond all recognition since the days of Woodbine and roses. There are currently 1.3 million men and women working beyond retirement age, a rise of 8.8 per cent in one year and the biggest increase in numbers for any cohort.
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(Source: Daily Telegraph)
Majority of voters will make social care for older people a top election issue, new survey finds
Two in three believe 'social care is in crisis'
The results of a Help the Aged poll recently released show that 59 per cent of people intend to vote for a political party that prioritises social care for older people at the next election.
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(Source: Medical News Today)
Older people needed to fill shortfall
The number of people retiring from the workforce is set to outstrip youngsters joining it by several hundred thousand over the next two decades, according to analysis by the Financial Times.
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(Source: Financial Times)
Annuities exposed: is your insurer acting?
A major investigation is being conducted by the Financial Services Authority into the annuities market amid concerns that insurers are not doing enough to point those with maturing pensions in the direction of the most appropriate annuity.
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(Source: This is Money)
Why 50 is the new 32-and-a-half
Is turning 50 the beginning of the end, or just the end of the beginning? The truth is that it's a bit of both. If 40 is the marker of middle-age (assuming one lives to 80) then it follows that 50 must be the gateway to old age: in other words, it's the time at which we have to face the terrifying truth that we have less time left than we have already had.
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(Source: The Herald)
Forget your inheritance, over 50s want worldwide adventure!
Recent research conducted by Saga Holidays reveals that two thirds (63 percent) of over 50s didn't travel abroad on holiday until they were adults. 82 percent of respondents over 65 believe they have made up for it in later life, whilst 50-64 year olds are doing everything possible to explore new and exciting destinations.
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(Source: Easier Travel)
Food and fuel bills force workers to delay retirement, survey claims
Rising food, gas, electricity and petrol bills are forcing pensioners to put off their retirement or consider going back to work, according to a new survey.
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(Source: Daily Telegraph)
Money making scams uncovered
It seems fraudsters are coming up with increasingly smarter ways to part you from your money. Don’t let it happen to you with our round-up of some of the most common scams around – some you may have heard of, but others may come as a surprise.
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(Source: Finance Daily)
Where are all the older female geeks?
Since starting her blog, Natalie d'Arbeloff has found that she is not the only older woman in the cybervillage. But they are still in the minority. Come on, she says, what are you waiting for?
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(Source: The Guardian)
Orchid offers silver service - new drive to promote over 60s Diamond Club
The Orchid Group is targeting with lucrative ‘grey pound’ market with a new drive to sign up members for its Diamond Club scheme, open to customers over 60.
The food-focused managed pub group is sending targeted direct mail to potential members within a five mile radius of its 41 contemporary carveries, as well as other pubs. Members are offered meal deals and discounts in at least 80 pubs.
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(Source: The Publican)
Brits worry about financing retirement years
Over half of Britons (54%) claim they would be worried about their ability to finance their retirement if they were to live for 10 years longer than today's average life span of 82 years according to research by Life Trust Insurance Plc.
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(Source: Easier Finance)
No country for old men
The number of men over 60 living alone in Britain has topped one million for the first time - and this Father's Day, many will have no contact at all with their families. But how did older men come to be so neglected? And why do women fare much better in retirement?
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(Source: Guardian)
Thousands fall prey to surge in cost of living
The number of pensioners living below the poverty line has risen by much more than expected to 2.5 million, the first increase since 1998, as older people struggle with higher fuel and food bills.
Department for Work and Pensions figures showed that in 2006-07 there was a jump of 300,000 in the number of pensioners in poverty, three times higher than economists had expected.
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(Source: Guardian)
Free swimming to be 2012 legacy
England's swimming pools could be free to use by the time of the London 2012 Olympics, says the government.
Over-60s are to be given free admission to public swimming pools in an £80m initiative, part of a bid to get more people involved in sport by 2012.
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(Source: BBC News)
Court hearing for mandatory challenge brought forward
A landmark challenge to scrap the compulsory retirement age for employees will now be heard in less than a month, it has emerged.
Charity Heyday, part of Age Concern, will dispute the legal retirement age of 65 at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on 2 July - months earlier than the 2009 date originally planned.
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(Source: Personnel Today)
Red wine curbs the effect of ageing
Red wine may be the next best thing to the fabled elixir of youth, new research suggests.
A compound in the skin of red grapes has been found to curb the effects of ageing, even when taken in tiny doses.
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(Source: The Press Association)
How to stay visible at fifty
For older British women, style is often a problem, not a pleasure - but it's all about attitude, says Celia Walden
'I have enjoyed greatly the second blooming," Agatha Christie once said. "Suddenly you find, at the age of 50, that a whole new life has opened before you."
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(Source: Daily Telegraph)
Employers unaware of 2012 pension changes
Over half of businesses do not know about government plans to reform pensions, even though they will hit 966,000 firms in the UK.
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(Source: myfinances.co.uk)
Worry for older jetsetters as 97% of insurers impose age limits
Holidaymakers over the age of 80 are increasingly being refused travel insurance because most policies are imposing an upper age limit, according to Intune, the financial services arm of charity Help the Aged.
Its research examined 495 travel insurance policies, and found that 97 per cent imposed upper age limits, while a quarter did not provide cover for travellers aged over 65.
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(Source: Guardian)
Wyevale "green malls" planned for over 60s
Sir Tom Hunter, the Scottish entrepreneur, plans to develop Wyevale Garden Centres into a chain of 'green' shopping malls for over-60s baby-boomers.
The Scottish retailer will develop the sites by building stores for third-party retailers on Wyevale's land. The environmentally-friendly stores will be designed to woo the aging UK population, which Sir Tom believes is a largely untapped demographic.
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(Source: Daily Telegraph)
In praise of older men - and women
To beat the skills shortage among the young, firms can profit from retraining mature workers seeking a career change. One in six people has switched career three times, and more than half of those had to retrain, according to Lifelong Learning, an organisation dedicated to improving skills in the education sector.
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(Source: Times)
How much do you need for a comfortable retirement?
Citywire readers are pretty realistic about what they need to save to achieve their aims with 25% estimating a lump sum of £250000 to £500000 and another 25% needing £500000 to £1 million with a surprising 20% believing they need more than £1 million to be comfortable.
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(Source: Citywire)
Freds are fretting (that's the new social grouping, over-50s who 'Face Retirement Earnings Doubts')
Around two-thirds of the over-50s fear they face an impoverished retirement, research reveals. Their concern is so common that experts have come up with a name for them.
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(Source: Daily Mail)
The iPad: a highly technological granny flat for your digital old age
These days it is the grandchildren who are in thrall to technology, with their webcams, emails, iPods and social network sites. But in 40 years time it will be the elderly who will have their finger on the button from a "virtual granny flat".
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(Source: Daily Mail)
Emporia launches 2nd Gen "over 50s" handset
Much in the same way the new subnotebook category offers users an inexpensive and straightforward laptop, ultra basic handsets targeting the aged or technophobic are popping up in all directions and one of the first companies in there is onto its second try...
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(Source: Trusted Reviews)
Cosmetics firms tempt men over 50
Beauty counters have long groaned under an exhaustive range of anti-ageing products targeted at older women, but now the cosmetics industry has shifted its attention to their other halves.
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(Source: Guardian)
Reinventing the retirement cliff edge
Less than half of Britons chose the word "happy" to describe how they felt on the first day of retirement, evidence the traditional sudden stop approach no longer works for many people.
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(Source: Department for Works and Pensions)
UK voluntary pension contributions slashed by half in 12 months
Voluntary pension contributions made by UK adults have almost halved in the past 12 months, according to new research from Prudential.
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(Source: Easier Finance)
Many employers are failing to tackle ageist policies
Age discrimination is still a major problem for UK organisations, according to the latest findings from the Recruitment Confidence Index (RCI), produced by Cranfield School of Management in association with Personnel Today.
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(Source: Personnel Today)
Future diagnostic laptop technology to tackle challenge of early global glaucoma detection
On this, the first World Glaucoma Day on Thursday 6 March, a team of researchers will reveal an exciting new development in the detection of glaucoma to a group of MPs in the House of Commons
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(Source: Markettiers4dc)
Don't bank on downsizing your home for your retirement dreams
Standard life has conducted analysis of the UK housing and retirement markets and is predicting a bleak future for many people hoping to use their current property to provide their pension.
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(Source: Easier Finance)
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