A new survey by Age UK has found that almost a quarter of over sixties who live in rural parts of England say lack of public transport is the biggest challenge they face. This poll supports Age UK’s new report Later Life in Rural England.
Among the report’s startling statistics is one that finds more than one third of pensioner households in rural areas have no access to a car or van. And rural households spend about £20 more per week on transport than urban households.
The charity’s report finds that aspects of living in the countryside present serious obstacles for many older people. These include:
• cuts to local bus services,
• a lack of nearby shops and services,
• high cost of heating and living (Age UK estimates there are 1,500,000 older people living in rural areas who are reliant on costly oil for their heating),
• lack of access to health and to social care,
• and difficulties in getting good broadband.
Age UK, which was formed when Age Concern joined forces with Help the Aged, has outlined the key challenges for older people living in rural areas:
• Approximately half of the rural population are aged over 45, compared with 36 per cent in major urban areas.
• Across rural England, the number of people aged over 65 with social care needs is projected to increase by 70 per cent over the next 16 years.
• The number of cases of depression, stroke, falls and dementia is also projected to grow between 50 and 60 per cent, compared with up to 42 per cent in urban areas.
• In addition studies have found that general prices in rural areas are typically 10-20 per cent higher than in urban areas.
Age UK is launching a campaign to get better and fairer services for older people in rural areas. They are calling on the government and on local authorities to ensure that the needs and interests of older people are taken into account when rural policies and programmes are designed and delivered.
Decisions on the future of rural services should not be based simply on cost and the number of people using services. Local authorities must always assess the impact that cutting a service would have on older people.
In particular, Age UK is calling for the prevention of loneliness to be made a priority. Loneliness has been shown to be as harmful to older people’s health as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.
