Series 2 Episode 3 Paul Farmer CBE

In their latest podcast, Niall and Roy have a fascinating exchange with Paul Farmer CBE, the leader of Age UK, Britain’s largest charity campaigning and providing services for older people.

Have older people got it too easy?

Little more than a generation ago, pensioners were seen as among the poorest and most vulnerable groups; today the vast majority have never had it so good. Yet Paul argues that is a dangerous narrative which ignores the two million or so older people who either experience poor health, financial insecurity or loneliness. And he rejects the idea that this is just about deprivation, suggesting we have not faced up to the enormous challenge of living in an ageing society.  When challenged on the cost of the triple lock for pensioners, Paul says he  welcomes the debate about the future of the state pension, including the possibility of means testing. But he warns that successive governments’ record on means testing has been extremely poor.  

On social care another warning - because of chronic and persistent underfunding he suggests something terribly bad could easily happen and that solutions offered in the past will need to be revised given the parlous state of services today. Paul argues not only that social care needs significant extra funding but also a long-term view; the question is who is going to play for these reforms?  

As for the NHS, he points to fact that in the last year more than fifty thousand patients in their 80s ended up hospital corridors, and that we need to start looking at the health service through the lens of older people. He is challenged on how much of Age UK’s income actually goes to local branches that provide direct services, as opposed to lobbying and other national activities. Paul responds by saying they have begun to give more to local branches and have plans to do more. 

 Listen to Niall and Roy’s reflections on this absorbing exchange with one of the most influential leaders advocating for older people in the UK.