We have a Minister for Women and Equalities in Harriet Harman, 
and a Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in Ed Balls.
That covers a few chunks of our society, but there seems to be no dedicated role which cares for one of our most vulnerable groups – the elderly.
While we fret about our youngsters eating five portions of fruit and veg a day and tucking into healthy school dinners, does anyone care if our pensioners are eating enough nourishing food? Although many of them live longer and healthier lives today and may be financially secure, others may be alone, living in poverty, or suffering from dementia.
According to The Centre for Economic Research, the proportion of 65-year-olds in the UK population today is 15%, compared to 11% in 1951, and 5% in 1911. In addition, many more now survive into their 80s and 90s.
I believe there are several things which can be done to make their lives so much easier, like ensuring the goods they buy are easy to remove from its packaging, which is what started me thinking about this, it was a trivial incident. Today I bought a rechargeable torch to prepare myself for power cuts which inevitably occur when there are storms in our village. We had one early this morning, and there could well be more.
Just unpacking the torch was a momentous task. It was moulded in thick, tightly fitting plastic which required a very firm grip to cut with scissors, I doubt if an arthritic hand would have had the strength. The instructions were written in about 10 languages, but in an impossibly tiny print and I could barely read the text through a magnifying glass. Again, I doubt if any pensioners could have read it. How on earth would a pensioner cope, I asked myself.
A Minister who catered for the needs of our pensioners could ensure that companies produced user friendly products for our saga citizens, as well as bringing back tea dances and encouraging them to sing in choirs. Perhaps Ed Balls could suggest that local schools invite their senior citizens into school one day a week to have dinner with pupils, to break up the monotony of their day, to reintroduce some joy into their lives.
As the older generation is an integral part of the family, which is included in Ed Ball’s job title – perhaps they come under his umbrella too. Heaven help them if this is the case, though I think not.
Just remember, one day, we will be golden oldies too….
Absolutely, they are a growing force in this country.
Yes, I agree, that would be a good idea!
Or should we have fewer ministers than we already have? Should we pay them less money? Should ministers get a pension or is that what civil servants are for and ministers for policy? Should ministers be paid a wage at all? Should we increase the huge bureaucratic virus of The State or take active steps to prevent ‘career politicians’ – those who chase power at any price, with any lie, for the obvious financial benefits. Yes, should we have a pensions minister?
No.
Some of these remarks are a bit silly – why on Earth would a pensioner want to sing in a choir or go to a tea dance if they did not want to when they were fifty or forty? When I am old I shall want to shag and take class A drugs…
Mutley, this post is part serious, part tongue in cheek as I feel we spend so much time, energy and resources on other groups of society and ignore the needs of our elderly who are often helpless and vulnerable. It’s proven that music, and singing in choirs, lifts your spirits, including the elderly. So thoughts like this made partly in jest could have some relevance one day. It’s got to be better than pill popping. And of course, saga sex too should be encouraged.
We have far too many ministers. Why should HH be Minister for “Women & Equality” rather than simply “Equality”? Pensioners may come under the Ministry for Families or do you think there should be a Ministry for Single People? It’s too much! I’m sure Civil Serf would have an opinion…she’d set up a Ministry for Bloggers.
WW, That was my thought about Ed Ball’s department too, but heaven help our poor pensioners if their welfare comes under his jurisdiction.
Er.. Ellee, you think “saga sex too should be encouraged”? Look at the front page of the Indy today and you’ll read that UK children are reported to be the unhappiest in the western world. Obviously they were far happier being thrust down mines, up chimneys or being blown up in a war, what price freedom? Hmn. No doubt the blame will be laid at the door of single mums, despite the fact that there were plenty of those after two world wars and boys weren’t drugged en masse with Ritalin. I think Mutley does highlight a good point – what people enjoyed as younger adults they want to continue to enjoy as older adults. But how can you reconcile damning the wanton sexual freedom of young adults and encourage ‘saga sex’? You don’t specify the encouragement of sexual relations between married couples, and I don’t think that’s what you meant. Are you saying it’s ok to be a sexual honey bee, going from the flower of womanhood, to flower, but only if she’s drawing her pension? Perhaps the pensions minister will host a database of pensioners and provide State sex lessons just as they do with children. Let’s face it, many women are amazed a man can work a mobile phone as the buttons are small on that too. I wonder what his other duties might be??
Pip, Hypothetically, if I am in my 70s and single and have the chance of a cuddle with someone I adore who is also around my age, then I shall go for it! Love and intimacy is the best medicine in the world. Obviously, better to be married and cuddle with your spouse, but life is not always that simple…..
NO! NO, no ,no, no. That’s the last thing us Grumpies need. Wash your mouth out with soap Ellee. Just have a look at what the commissars have done for children and women, PLEASE.
Just leave us alone, we are doing fine without them. I want to die in peace and dignity. i don’t want some spotty graduate of the Students Union telling me I can’t drink, smoke and have butter on my toast.
Who represents childless, single people at Budget time!?!
They are expected to roll over and pay more tax to subsidise the lives of everyone else in society…
Totally agree, Ellee. There should be a Minister who would really take care of the concerns of the elderly and make sure they are not ignored. Here I am fed up with fighting with difficult-to-open jars and you can get so frustrated that you do yourself an injury. I think Mutley has the right attitude to ageing, though!
Snafu – no they don’t; single people get a reduction in council tax.