Time to Tackle Poverty Amongst the Most Vulnerable Groups Including Older People and Older Women in Particular!

The European Older People’s Platform

October 17, 2008

World

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

In the context of the ongoing financial crisis and the announced deep economic slowdown, it is time for action to secure people’s incomes, in particular amongst the most vulnerable groups such as older people. The trend to reform pension schemes through a gradual shift of the responsibility from the State to the individual, leaving older people’s personal savings at the mercy of economic fluctuations and financial markets’ speculations, will reduce even further the adequacy of incomes in old age and increase the risk of poverty of the most vulnerable people such as low-income pensioners and older women.

“Older people are going to be hit even more dramatically than others by today’s crisis, in particular older women who are already facing a higher risk of poverty due to their higher life expectancy, the lack of an individual right to pension, and lower labour participation.”, says Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE Director. 

Combinations of factors such as low income, poor health, age-based discrimination, reduced physical or mental capacity, isolation, abuse, limited access to health and long-term care services, etc. can all play a part in increasing the risks of poverty and social exclusion faced by people as they age. 

AGE therefore urges the European Union and the Member States to take concrete initiatives, including legislative measures, to tackle growing poverty and social exclusion amongst the elderly. The current economic context provides all evidence for the need of governments’ action to address the risk of poverty and social exclusion. What is missing is a strong political will. The slower European governments are to react to this challenge, the harder it will become to find effective and sustainable solutions.

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