Ageing Without Children - One Simple General Election Ask . . .
With the UK General Election in full swing, this is a timely opportunity to ask politicians to recognise the growing and important issue of ageing without children.
The Longevity White Paper from the International Longevity Centre has highlighted that demographic change will seriously affect the look of UK society in future - we are living longer, there are fewer children being born, and women are having children later in life.
There are also no statistics on adult men or women who have no children for whatever reason, or who cannot rely on support from family due to distance, estrangement or other reasons.
So we know there will be more people ageing without children. But we don't know how many.
Larger ageing charities such as Age UK, Independent Age and the Centre for Ageing Better are better placed than us to push the argument for the massive changes that are needed in adult health and social care, and whilst AWOC supports their efforts the specific issues facing those ageing without children need highlighting.
AWOC therefore has one simple ask of the next government.
Count us.
Our Founder, Kirsty Woodard, succeeded it making sure that ageing without children is a recognised issue facing UK health and social care, but in order for policy-makers to be able to do anything about it we need proper data to make the case for change. Those ageing without children are not currently counted in the Census data, or within other national or local government statistics.
We want to work with the next government so that they can have the evidence to address the long term implications of ageing without children, and help craft policies that will support those who are ageing without children to have healthy, financially secure, and fulfilling lives.
Paul Goulden
Chair, AWOC
Please contact info@awoc.org.uk
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