The Forgotten Age Understanding poverty and social exclusion in later life

A report by The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ)

According to this report by The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) in the UK poverty and social exclusion in later life remain unacceptably high . One in five pensioners in the UK lives below the official poverty line and bearing in mind the narrow and arbitrary nature of this measurement, there are many more older people whose quality of life is far too low. This report shows, the clearest example of this less quantifiable disadvantage is older people’s experience of loneliness and exclusion. And for those in Britain’s poorest communities, such disadvantage is an urgent reality: on average people in these areas live shorter lives than those from more affluent neighbourhoods. The report states: "What is at stake is life, not simply quality of life. Our society is also ageing rapidly: by the year 2024 one in five people will be of pensionable age. This phenomenon will bring with it new social and economic pressures. Unless these are handled promptly and efficiently, pensioner poverty and social exclusion in later life are likely to worsen."