More help for elderly required in recession

It has been reported that more help is needed for elderly people in the UK during the recession, with charities for the elderly claiming that there are a number of measures that could help to make the lives of suffering pensioners easier.

Age Concern and Help the Aged are calling for a number of measures to be put into place in order to assist pensioners at this difficult time, stating that the suffering of these pensioners could be eased by the introduction of such measures.

The charities are calling for automatic payments of benefits for pensioners as well as help with savings for the many pensioners who have lost a huge chunk of their income due to interest rate falls on their savings accounts.

The charities claim that many pensioners are now being forced to cut back on the purchase of essentials including food because of their financial situations. Following a poll the charities claimed that around 22 percent of pensioners were skipping meals in order to save money.

One charity official said: “Many older people are being clobbered by high prices and are being pushed to extreme measures to cope financially – the government cannot sit by while older people skip meals and put their health at risk.”

She added: “The state of the economy is the defining issue of our times and this year’s Budget will have many demands on it. But the challenge to government is to ensure that older people, and older voters, are not forgotten.”

One pensioner said: “We are not on the breadline, but we do feel the pinch. We know people who have had to carry on working to survive. I would hate to be in the position of trying to cope with credit when on a pension.”

Tags: elderly, Age Concern, charities, Help the Aged, pensioners, pensioner, charity, Seniors