RE-DEFINING ‘OLD’; IT’S NOT 65 - IT’S 93.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 24, 2011.

RE-DEFINING ‘OLD’; IT’S NOT 65 - IT’S 93.

When Her Majesty the Queen celebrated her 85^th birthday on April 21, 2011, she may have finally re-defined Britain’s perception of what is “old”; it’s not 65 - it’s 93.

But the question is who will have the guts to decline Her Majesty for insurance for her cars or foreign travel on age grounds, says over-50s lifestyle group Saga, one of the very few who’d quote the Queen for her Land Rover - or for more than 30 days foreign travel a year.

“If the Queen was living in Buckingham Avenue rather than Buckingham Palace, then, despite her proven ability to match or better world leaders half her age, home or away, she’ll find it a bit tougher to get insurance to drive, or travel abroad. It’s all down to a perception of age and what is ‘old’,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga.

“In the year the Queen was born, 1926, the definition of ‘old’ was effectively set in stone, and we became stuck with it.

“That definition of ‘old age’ has survived for generations: 1926 was the year the state pension age was set at 65, and established the perception that we’re officially very old and past-it at 65. At the time, around 60% of people did not live long enough to collect their state pension.

“But because of the setting of that milestone, our mindset today says 65 is old – as if every older person around us is an exception rather than the rule.

“In 1926, average life expectancy was 61 for women and just 57 for men, so the pension age was 14% beyond a man's average life expectancy.  In 2011, life expectancy is 82 for women and 77 for men.  14% beyond that would be age 93 for women and 88 for men.  

“So, by this new definition, our Queen may not yet be very 'old'. Indeed, around a fifth of people alive today will live to 100 - and there’s a very good chance that could include the Queen too, given her family’s famous longevity.

“But even people in their 90s and beyond embarrass younger generations with their wisdom and vitality.

“At 85, the Queen is a renowned wit, a handy Land Rover driver, has boundless energy both on public duty and in privately enjoying the great outdoors. But how many times do we meet hugely active older people and say, ‘you can’t be that old, surely?’ They should actually be considered the rule, not the exception.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.saga.co.uk

AV: OVER-50S UNCONVINCED BY YES CAMPAIGN

EMMA SOAMES

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 21, 2011.

AV: OVER-50S UNCONVINCED BY YES CAMPAIGN.

Older people are far more likely to vote for no change to the UK voting system, with older men in the higher socio-economic groups being most likely to say “leave the system as it is”.

Over-50s lifestyle group Saga polled 11,801 customers over the age of 50, and the signs are the “Yes to AV” campaign has a lot of work to do with older people.

“It could be tough. Both our research and the research of other organisations indicates that older people are far more likely to vote on any issue than younger people, and older people are far less likely to change their mind,” said Emma Soames, Editor-at-Large of Saga Magazine.

Saga’s survey shows 50%of respondents think the “first past the post” electoral system currently used to elect MPs to the House of Commons should not be replaced with the “Alternative Vote” (AV) system. Around a third (32%) think it should be replaced with the AV system, and just under one in five (18%) say they don’t know.

Panellists in Scotland (41%) and Northern Ireland (50%) are most likely to support the introduction of the AV system. This is likely to be due to the prevalence of different voting systems in these two nations’ parliamentary or assembly elections.

People surveyed by Saga said that if the AV system were introduced, more than two thirds (68%) of respondents think that coalition governments between parties would be more likely than under the first past the post system. 59% also think it will be more likely that smaller parties will be represented in parliament under AV.

A quarter (24%) of respondents think it is more likely that MPs will be held to account under such a system, however three in ten (29%) think it is less likely that the party or parties in government will keep to their manifesto commitments.

Full survey report available.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.saga.co.uk

MANY “RESENTFUL” UNDER-24S WOULDN’T HAVE WORK WITHOUT OLDER COLLEAGUES.

EMMA SOAMES

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 19, 2011.

MANY “RESENTFUL” UNDER-24S WOULDN’T HAVE WORK WITHOUT OLDER COLLEAGUES.

Commenting on research* by care provider Anchor that revealed more than 40% of 18-24s resented older people staying in work, Emma Soames, Editor-at-Large of Saga Magazine and over-50s champion, said:

“Young people perhaps underestimate the contribution of older people in the workplace. People notice fuss or flurries of activity around workplace decision-making, usually involving the less-experienced who will often ultimately ask an older person for advice anyway.

“But older people have the life and work experience to make business or work decisions more calmly, and consequently faster, simply because they’ve been there before.

“It’s therefore ironic that some of the most important workplace decisions, quietly and decisively made by older people at all levels, have and do create and maintain jobs for the younger generations.”

* Link to original story.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.saga.co.uk

WAITING FOR GOD – AND ANDREW LANSLEY, TOO; HEALTH BILL ‘PAUSE’ QUESTIONED.

EMMA SOAMES

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 18, 2011.

WAITING FOR GOD – AND ANDREW LANSLEY, TOO; HEALTH BILL ‘PAUSE’ QUESTIONED.

Prime Minister David Cameron says that the Government is taking advantage of the pause to consider “real changes” to the Health and Social Care Bill, but over-50s organisation Saga says he needs look no further than recent attitudinal research that makes it crystal clear as to what is required.

“Older people relying on the NHS are waiting for both God and Andrew Lansley while this ‘pause’ is going on; unfortunately only one is certain,” said Emma Soames, Editor-at-Large of Saga Magazine.  

“We surveyed 12,939 over-50s, and it’s clear that over-50s support radical reforms of the NHS.

“More than half (59%) of the twelve-thousand-plus over-50s surveyed would be happier if GPs would, in future, have more control over their long-term treatment and healthcare requirements.  This figure increases to 66% among the over-70s, who were most supportive of the changes.  

"A third (33%) of respondents to the Saga Populus poll thought that GPs would do better at finding them the best NHS treatment than the existing Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), and Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).  

"While listening is good, and taking time to carefully consider such radical change is sensible, the government  shouldn't permit vested interests to derail the reforms, which aim to put patients and GPs at the heart of the new NHS.

"Older people have great faith in their GPs' commitment and ability to get the best possible health outcomes for them from the NHS. This principle should not be lost during this pause for further consultation,” said Emma Soames.  

"There is obviously room for a broader role for health professionals other than just GPs. Integration of medical and social care is very important for future success."

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.saga.co.uk

SAGA: WHO CARES MOST FOR OLDIES - OVER-50S OR UNDER-21S?

EMMA SOAMES

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 18, 2011.

WHO CARES MOST FOR OLDIES – OVER-50S OR UNDER-21S?

A confusing picture has emerged over who cares more for the older generations – over-50s or under-21s.

The confusion arises from Aviva’s latest Real Retirement Report which states under-21s would put more cash into caring for elderly relatives – if they could afford it – but over-50s organisation Saga says that most familial carers are women over 50 who will find a way of paying.

“It’s a little bit apples and bananas, but while Aviva says under-21s would give up a greater proportion of their income to finance their older relatives, our research says something very different,” said Emma Soames, Editor-at-Large of Saga Magazine.  

"The Aviva report suggests that older people are happy to pass off the burden of supporting their elderly relatives, and that the young are the real philanthropic generation.  

“But, in stark contrast, our experience shows that most familial carers are women over the age of 50.  So whilst they are realistic about not being able to support their elderly relatives financially, they dig deep on both their physical and emotional reserves to provide the one-to-one care the most vulnerable in our society really need.

“The report, however, does highlight the potential for families to 'club' together to save for future care needs for the family as a whole, a point that Saga raised in its submission of evidence to the Dilnot Commission on Care Funding.

“This makes it clear that clubbing together, or wider incentives to encourage saving for care, should be a key strand in any recommendations arising from Dilnot.”

  
Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

www.saga.co.uk

RE-OPENING OF CHEQUE ABOLITION INQUIRY IS PRICELESS, SAYS SAGA.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

SAGA SOUNDBITE

April 14, 2011.

RE-OPENING OF CHEQUE ABOLITION INQUIRY IS PRICELESS, SAYS SAGA.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga, commenting on the Treasury Select Committee’s decision to re-open its inquiry into the abolition of cheques, said:

"We warmly welcome the decision by the Treasury Select Committee to reopen its inquiry into the abolition of cheques.  This will be very popular with older people, many of whom have written to us expressing their concerns that they will not be able to manage without cheques. 

“Many of the over-50s find the convenience of writing cheques is very important to them for managing and organising their finances and keeping track of their dwindling pensions and savings income.

“Our recent survey of 13,000 over-50s found that two thirds of respondents (67%) fundamentally disagreed with the decision to withdraw cheques, and one in ten believed that they would not be able to pay some bills if cheques were withdrawn. 

“The most vulnerable of older people will often have no internet access and, if they are hard of hearing, may not be able to manage using telephone services either.  Therefore this decision to reopen the inquiry is a victory for common sense and the voice of older consumers."

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

SAGA PUBLISHES GUIDES TO WORKING LIFE AFTER THE DEFAULT RETIREMENT AGE (DRA) OFFICIALLY ENDS

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 11, 2011.

SAGA PUBLISHES GUIDES TO WORKING LIFE AFTER THE DEFAULT RETIREMENT AGE (DRA) OFFICIALLY ENDS – ONE FOR EMPLOYERS, ONE FOR EMPLOYEES.

Video

To download a copy of the Rethinking Retirement guide for Employees please click here.

To download a copy of the Rethinking Retirement guide for Employers please click here.

The now defunct default retirement age has for generations signalled a dead end for older people – but now the challenge is for employers and wannabe-longer-workers is tackling the new lease of life leant by the new rules.

One of the country’s biggest and most experienced over-50s lifestyle groups, Saga, has more appreciation than most about what faces both employees and employers, and has produced online guides aimed at helping both groups.

“It’s not just a moral responsibility to let people work as long as they want, it’s now also a legal responsibility – but both employers and employees may well find the first steps into the unknown to be a bit daunting – so we’ve teamed up with The Age and Employment Network and brought to bear our collective experience to do what we can to help make this an easier cultural transition,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga.

“The end of the default retirement age (DRA) has arrived – and from now on, employers can no longer sack workers just for being 65. At a time when people are living longer and the country faces unprecedented economic challenges, this is only the first step towards rethinking retirement. The UK must nurture a ‘personalised retirement’ culture if the country is to cater for its ageing population,” said Dr Ros Altmann.

“Many people want to work beyond retirement age, saying it keeps their mind alert and that they want to ensure continued income in later life.

“To make sure we do this to the benefit of UK workers, we need to alter our approach and mindset to retirement. This culture change means that the Government must encourage employers to make retirement a process, rather than an event.”

Saga has launched two guides outlining what employers and employees need to think about in this new workplace world.

The guides coincide with the end of the DRA, a move that Saga has warmly welcomed, knowing that many older workers would prefer to continue working than be forced to retire at an arbitrary age.

Dr Ros Altmann said: “We are delighted that the Government abolished the default retirement age. It should have been done years ago. We have been very concerned to see recent cases of employers outrageously forcing their workers in to retirement before the new regime sets in – this is a sheer disgrace.

“For both employers and employees wondering what opportunities and challenges will arise from now on, we hope our Saga Guides to Rethinking Retirement will prove very useful reading.

“We encourage any workers who have been forced to retire from their jobs to look at our guides and to consider their options. There are many alternatives for part time and flexible work open to people over 65 and we encourage people not to give up.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

OVER-50S ARE GRUMPY, UNFRIENDLY AND “PAST IT”? NOT SO, SAY THE WHIPPERSNAPPERS.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

April 10, 2011.

OVER-50S ARE GRUMPY, UNFRIENDLY AND “PAST IT”? NOT SO, SAY THE WHIPPERSNAPPERS.

Dr Ros Altmann video

Oldies’ perceptions that younger people pigeonhole them as grumpy, unfriendly and “past it” are misplaced, according to independent research commissioned by over-50s lifestyle group Saga.

The research compares the perceptions 18-24s have of over-50s with what older people believe younger people think.

“The overall message is that perhaps crossing the boundary to 50 is nowhere near as life-changing as myth, Grumpy Old Men and Victor Meldrew would have it,” said Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga.

“Around 67% of over-50s believe 18-24s perceive them as ‘past it’, but the reality is that just 18% of 18-24s actually have that perception. And while only 11% of over-50s think younger people perceive them as friendly, the reality is that around 29% of 18-24s do actually think older people are indeed friendly.

“We’ve decided that all this is becoming such an issue we’re putting up a £10,000 reward for the video that best dispels the ’50-is-old’ myth.

“There are more myths to be shattered too: just 17% of over-50s think 18-24s consider them knowledgeable; however, the truth is that 42% of 18-24s perceive oldies as being great fonts of knowledge.

“Perhaps understandably, 18-24s are largely unenthusiastic about turning 50, with 39% of younger adults saying 50 seems old, but only 8% of over-50s agreeing once they reach and pass that milestone. 60% of over-50s consider 50 to be ‘just another birthday’, while only 16% of younger people dismiss it in the same way.”

The video competition is open to anybody over the age of 16 who lives or studies in the UK.  For example, you may be younger than 50:  As you think about the future, what do you hope life will be like when you turn 50?  What are you looking forward to?  You may be older than 50:  in a similar way, put yourself in the shoes of someone around 25 today, and think about their world when they will be 50.  

Video submissions: Full details on http://www.saga.co.uk/being50

The research was conducted by YouGov for Saga, sampling 1,148 UK adults on February 22 and 23, 2011.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

HUTTON RECOMMENDATIONS: PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS REMAIN AMAZINGLY GENEROUS, SAYS SAGA.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

March 10, 2011.

PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS REMAIN AMAZINGLY GENEROUS.
PUBLIC WORKERS SEEM UNAWARE OF JUST HOW GENEROUS THEY ARE.

Lord Hutton's recommendations on public sector pensions have led to calls for industrial action by public sector unions, but the reality is that his proposals will still leave them with hugely generous pensions that most private sector workers could never hope to achieve, says Dr Ros Altmann, pensions expert and Director-General of over-50s group, Saga.

Dr Altmann makes a number of observations on the Hutton recommendations:

1.  Public sector workers will still retain really generous pensions.

2.  Even a £4,000 a year public sector pension is worth more than £100,000, and most private sector workers, especially those on low pay, could never hope to save that sum of money during their working lives. Public sector workers pay relatively little to achieve this huge benefit.

3.  Pay in the public sector is no longer lower than in the private sector, so workers' pensions are no longer reflecting lower pay as was the case in the past.

4.  The new proposals will be fairer for women and low paid workers, because they benefit most from a career average scheme rather than final salary.

Dr Altmann said: “There are several good points in amongst Lord Hutton's recommendations.

“An independent oversight of the costs of public sector pensions to protect future taxpayers and help provide transparency - these changes are long overdue.

A proper cost cap on employer (ie. taxpayer contributions) – again, this is essential if we are to make pensions sustainable because unexpected future changes need to be accommodated more flexibly than current systems allow.

“Linking pension age to state pension age is very welcome because it reduces the unfairness between public and private sector workers - and I would expect private sector pension schemes will look to follow this example too

“The new proposals will share the cost more fairly across generations and ensure workers are paying more if the costs of their pensions is rising.”

Dr Altmann has also explained why public sector pensions remain generous even after the Hutton recommendations.

“All workers in the current scheme will have their accrued pension benefits linked to their final salary when they retire, not career average and not their actual salary when the scheme changes, which is far more generous to them because they will keep the final salary link even for the future. The new career average accruals will only start from when the new scheme starts.  

“Anyone close to retirement or in their 50s will be pretty much unaffected.

“Public sector pensions will still be 100% inflation-linked - even if it is to a slightly lower measure of inflation, the protection is still vastly better than in the private sector.

“Meanwhile, anyone who has left the public sector will still have their pension revalued each year by average earnings - not prices - up to their retirement, so their pension will be higher than for equivalent private sector workers,” said Dr Altmann.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAGA

COMMENT

January 26, 2011.

SMALL INCREASE IN CARER SUPPORT WILL SAVE HOSPITALS AND CARE LOCAL AUTHORITIES A FORTUNE.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director General of Saga, commenting on the Alzheimer’s Society report into dementia care, said:

“The Alzheimer’s Society report highlights the paucity of proper care at home for people with dementia and the lack of support for their family carers, which forces too many out of their homes and into care homes.

"Support for carers brings benefits to carers, their loved ones and to the state. There are billions of pounds of potential savings to the public purse if people get care in their home instead of in a care home or hospital.

"We need to revisit the attitude of institutionalisation and consider helping people to provide, or access, home care.

"All three Party Manifestos committed to protect the most vulnerable in society. However, sweeping cuts to local authority budgets threaten the very people the political parties have pledged to protect. If elderly people are forced from their homes prematurely it can have particularly tragic consequences for those that need familiarity and routine to function.”  

  

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

 

ENDING THE DEFAULT RETIREMENT AGE IS A MUST, SAYS DR ROS ALTMANN.

DR ROS ALTMANN


DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE



January 13, 2010.



ENDING THE DEFAULT RETIREMENT AGE IS A MUST, SAYS DR ROS ALTMANN.



Commenting on the Government’s announcement on timing of the ending of the Default Retirement Age, Dr Ros Altmann, Director General of Saga, said:



“The Government's decision to ban employers from being able to sack their staff just for being age 65 is brilliant news. This should have been done many years ago. As the first baby-boomer has reached 65 this year and as millions more will reach that age in the next few years, the labour market has to adjust to reality.



“Most people are not old at 65 any more - they are not ready for the scrapheap, work-wise. Indeed, they still have valuable skills and experience which, if lost, would damage all our futures.



“A recent Saga Survey of the over 50s showed that nearly half of those not yet retired want to work past the age of 65 and around 7% want to work into their 70s.



“Employers need to adjust the new realities. They will have to assess how to judge workers' skills and abilities for the job, rather than retaining the easy option of just getting rid of them because of their age. Such age discrimination has no place in a modern economy. If a worker is fit and able to do their job, or if a worker is not up to their job, then Human Resources managers must find ways to assess and prove this.



“The ideal will be to facilitate far more part-time work in later life, with employers and workers having a mature discussion about the best way to retain workers' skills as they reach their 60s. As more of the baby boomers reach this age, it will be beneficial to all of us to keep them in the labour force, producing and earning to support the economy and themselves. If we waste their skills and throw them out of work, without much money to live on, they will have less to spend, create less jobs for younger workers and set in train economic decline.



“Well done to the Government for finally introducing this much needed reform.”



Ends



Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

SAGA DIRECTOR GENERAL SAYS ROCK BOTTOM INTEREST RATES COULD HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

January 12, 2011.

SAGA DIRECTOR GENERAL SAYS ROCK BOTTOM INTEREST RATES COULD HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.

The Bank of England is under renewed pressure to raise interest rates as millions of pensioners saw their income fall for the third year in a row.

On the eve of Thursday’s meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, pensions expert Dr Ros Altmann said the decision to keep rock bottom rates has had ”devastating consequences” for the UK’s 13.5m pensioners, who she said “were being sacrificed” to the Government’s economic policies.

“This really cannot go on, 2010 was the third consecutive dreadful year for
pensions and pensioners and without action from the Bank of England it can
only get worse”, said Dr Altmann, Director General of Saga.

Figures for last year showed that the value of pension annuities fell by at least
2.7%.

“The Bank’s policy of  pumping cash into the economy through Quantitative
Easing coupled with rock bottom rates  has wiped out part of peoples pension
incomes,” she said.

“The lower annuity rates fall, the less monthly income your pension fund will pay
 you and once you buy at low rates you are stuck with them for the rest of your
 life”.

Dr Altmann said most people buy annuities that are fixed in money terms which
means there is no protection against inflation.

“Inflation, as everyone can see, has been rising sharply as annuity rates have
been falling. This is a double whammy for pensioners.”

She said that in the past 15 years annuity rates have just about halved: “The income you will receive as a pension in retirement now for £10,000 worth of pension savings is only half as much as it would have been if you had
retired then.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

SAGA DIRECTOR GENERAL COMMENTS ON MIRIAM O’REILLY AGEISM CLAIM.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAGA

SAGA SOUNDBITE

January 11, 2011.

SAGA DIRECTOR GENERAL COMMENTS ON MIRIAM O’REILLY AGEISM CLAIM.

Commenting on Miriam O’Reilly’s ageism victory against the BBC, Dr Ros Altmann, Director General of Saga, said:

“This should be a warning to any and every employer that age discrimination is unacceptable, intolerable, and has no place in the 21^st century, and that it will be punished to the full extent of the law when it is proven.

“It is clear that there are still employers at all levels and in all fields who do what they can to employ younger, less experienced, cheaper and subjectively more attractive people, and, in my opinion, more older people should be tackling this issue head on more often. For every age discrimination claim that makes it to the surface I believe there are hundreds if not thousands that go uncontested.

“That Miriam O’Reilly appears to have been subject to age discrimination on the grounds of vanity and appearance is massively insulting.

“There is great experience behind every wrinkle, and a successful claim such as this will hopefully go some way towards ensuring that the faces of the media in whatever format are representative of the population, that age is not penalised in any form of employment, and that jobs are maintained or offered on the grounds of ability and suitability rather than age or looks.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

£162M NHS TRANSFER WELCOMED BY DR ROS ALTMANN – BUT ADMISSIONS STILL TOO HIGH

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAGA

SAGA SOUNDBITE

January 4, 2011.

£162M NHS TRANSFER WELCOMED BY DR ROS ALTMANN – BUT ADMISSIONS STILL TOO HIGH.

Commenting on the £162 million in-year transfer of NHS money to local authorities announced today by the Secretary of State for Health, Dr Ros Altmann, economist and Director General of Saga, said:

“The fact that over 2,500 people are stuck in hospital for the want of a proper local authority care plan is shocking - and it is good news that the Government has at last recognised that more needs to be done to make the care system fit for purpose.  However, a related issue that is too often overlooked, is the scandal of thousands of unnecessary admissions to hospital every year due to lack of appropriate domiciliary care."

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

SCOTLAND TOP AND ENGLISH REGIONS BOTTOM FOR WINTER COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

December 21, 2010.

SCOTLAND TOP AND ENGLISH REGIONS BOTTOM FOR WINTER COMMUNITY SPIRIT.

Elderly people living in Scotland are more than twice as likely to be offered bad weather help by neighbours than the UK average.

An independent survey of 11,760 people conducted by Populus for Saga, the lifestyle, financial services and travel organisation for over-50s, found that 22% were offered help during the December ice and snows by neighbours - compared to the nationwide average of 10%.

But only 4% of older people in the West Midlands said they’d been offered help, with the North West and East Anglia faring little better at 5%. London and the South West were on 7%, Wales 8%, Northern Ireland 9%, the South East 11%, the East Midlands 12%, the North East 14%, Yorkshire and Humber 16%.

The news comes as Saga launches its search for the best good neighbours in winter-battered Britain.

The survey also found that a quarter of over-75 respondents received help during the recent snowy and icy weather from their family (24%) and/or neighbours (25%). Community spirit was greatest in Scotland where 22% of all respondents (compared to 10% nationally) were helped by their neighbours. Only 1% of Saga panellists needed help - but didn’t receive any. Four out of five (80%) respondents weren’t offered help but felt that they really didn’t need any.

Icy pavements which prevent people from going out were the biggest problem for survey respondents (35%) when it is very snowy and icy; this is particularly true for the older respondent. The greatest concern for almost one in five Saga panellists (19%) is just keeping warm, given how high the heating bills are. Nevertheless, for those respondents who have not yet retired, the biggest problem is getting to work (47%).

Saga is launching a “Good Neighbour Roll of Honour” to demonstrate the positive effects the bad weather can have and how it is truly becoming a word for today as neighbours pull together in times of hardship.

“You don’t have to dive into a freezing river or try and stop a sliding vehicle to be considered a hero by your older neighbours”, said Emma Soames, Editor-at-Large of Saga Magazine.

“Saga wants to celebrate the good neighbours who are truly making a difference to the lives of older people this winter.

“It doesn’t take much; just offering to go out for groceries or providing a lift to get to appointments or a helping hand so they can go on with their normal lives is so important at this time of year and can make a massive difference to physical and mental wellbeing – for both the helped and the helper.

“We are asking people who are benefiting from the kindness of a good neighbour to let Saga know who they are and we will add their names to our Good Neighbours roll of honour which will be published on the Saga website.

“We only need to know their name - or indeed just their first or nickname and the town or location you and they live in. And then we'd like a short sentence on how they are making a difference in your area while the weather is making life tricky for us all.”

Nominations can be emailed to goodneighbour@saga.co.uk, or posted to: Press Team, Saga Building, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE THE BEST NEIGHBOURS IN BRITAIN? IF SO, WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THEM.

SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

December 16, 2010.

DO YOU HAVE THE BEST NEIGHBOURS IN BRITAIN? IF SO, WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THEM.

The search is on for the best ‘good neighbour’ in winter-battered Britain.

Saga, the travel, lifestyle and financial services organisation for over-50s, is launching a “Good Neighbour Roll of Honour” to demonstrate the positive effects the bad weather can have and how it is truly becoming a word for today as neighbours pull together in times of hardship.

“It’s a long time since we’ve seen the sense of community tested to this degree.  David Cameron is talking about the ‘Big Society’, but across Britain communities have been pulling together and bringing the words to life with real heroism and support being shown by friends and neighbours,” said Emma Soames, Editor-at-Large of Saga Magazine. 

“You don’t have to dive into a freezing river or try and stop a sliding vehicle to be considered a hero by your older neighbours”, she says. 

“Saga wants to celebrate the good neighbours who are truly making a difference to the lives of older people this winter and throughout the festive season.

“It doesn’t take much; just offering to go out for groceries or providing a lift to get to appointments or a helping hand so they can go on with their normal lives is so important at this time of year and can make a massive difference to physical and mental wellbeing – for both the helped and the helper.

“We are asking people who are benefiting from the kindness of a good neighbour to let Saga know who they are and we will add their names to our Good Neighbours roll of honour which will be published on the Saga website.

“We only need to know their name - or indeed just their first or nickname and the town or location you and they live in. And then we'd like a short sentence on how they are making a difference in your area while the weather is making life tricky for us all.”

Nominations can be emailed to goodneighbour@saga.co.uk.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

IGNORE CALLS FOR DELAY OF DEFAULT RETIREMENT AGE ABOLITION, SAYS ROS ALTMANN.

DR ROS ALTMANN

DIRECTOR GENERAL, SAGA

PRESS RELEASE

December 13, 2010

IGNORE CALLS FOR DELAY OF DEFAULT RETIREMENT AGE ABOLITION, SAYS ROS ALTMANN.

Dr Ros Altmann, Director General of Saga, says calls by business leaders to delay the abolition of the Default Retirement Age should be ignored.

Dr Altmann said: “The Default Retirement Age Should have been abolished years ago.  The timetable must certainly not slip.  Ageism has no place in a modern labour market.  

“Of course it is more convenient for employers to be able to just sack someone for being 65, but that is not fair on the workers themselves.  It is also a huge waste of our national resources.  

“Employers must judge workers fairly. People are not old or 'past it' at 65 any more.  Of course some people are not fit to work, but that applies at much younger ages too and employers will have to adjust their attitudes and assess workers' skills objectively, not on the basis of old-fashioned prejudice.  Most people still have enormous amounts to offer employers.

“Longer working lives are an essential element of overcoming our pensions crisis. The first baby-boomers reach age 65 in 2011 and the demographics mean millions more following in coming years.  

“Their pensions have not worked out in the way they had expected, and they are still fit and healthy.  They would much rather stay on at work than be forced to retire.  If they are forced out of the labour market, they will end up poorer in retirement and that will impact the economy as a whole, as they will have less money to spend.

“Whether or not a worker is suitable for employment should be determined by their skill and ability, not their chronological age.  Employers must be obliged to assess workers' suitability for their jobs on an individual basis, not according to some arbitrary criteria that consigns older workers to a labour market scrapheap on which they do not belong.

“There is a whole new phase of life waiting for workers - a period of years when they work part-time, cutting down gradually rather than suddenly stopping altogether.  

“This is the way forward for employers and the sooner they wake up to the new realities, the better.  Retirement should be a process, not an event, with 'bonus years' of part-time work that allow workers to keep earning and employers to retain their skills.

“Flexible retirement and gradual change in work patterns, or perhaps use of older workers for mentoring, training younger workers in firm-specific skills, job-sharing and so on will all require careful handling, but would be of enormous benefit to employers, employees and society as a whole. Unless people keep working longer, we will all be poorer in future.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.saga.co.uk

NOTES
Saga carried out a survey of 14,178 people aged over 50.  85% thought that employees should have the right to a staged retirement.  Our recent research shows that 38% want to continue working past state pension age and more than a third of people who have already retired say they would prefer to be doing some paid work.

HR departments already, in many cases, understand the benefits of employing older workers.  Saga’s own assessment of older workers shows that their performance is not dependent on their age.  Also, employers have made flexible work available for women (for example after childbirth) and such policies can be extended to assist older workers stay in employment after their full-time careers and before full-time retirement