How many of us give a thought to saving for a care home when we become old and vulnerable? In today’s cash struck society, it’s tough enough keeping a job and paying everyday bills, keeping our heads above water. And, of course, we don’t think we will need one while we enjoy the best health.

However, if we think things are bad now following the demise of the Southern Cross Care Homes, imagine how much worse it could be for future generations of young people who could end up spending a large part of their adult life paying back university tuition fees and find themselves unable to afford buying their own home, let alone saving for a care home.

It’s certainly good that the government is considering introducing a £50,000 cap on the costs of care for the elderly, but I don’t know how our government can foot the rest of the these astonomical costs, and I suspect that there will be new taxation to meet the bill.

I do think Paul Burstow is doing a great job in tackling these issues, but I feel we also need a Minister for Older People to highlight the wider and pragmatic problems facing our soaring elderly population. I recently prepared a briefing document on these issues for a national PR agency, and for many years I have had personal concerns about them too; the writing has been on the wall for many years, and we how have to face up to it.

In 2010 there were 2.6 million people aged over 80 and this is expected to rise to 4.8 million by 2030, and one in five of those will need regular care. The number of people over 85 is predicted to double in the next 20 years, a third of whom are expected to develop dementia. One day we will be included in this data. One day we will be elderly too. What I see from some I know is that they still feel young in heart and spirit, while weak in body. And they benefit so much by enjoying the company of young people.  I would like to see new homes for the elderly closely integrated into new housing estates so they are at the heart of local communities and welcomed into local schools for dinners where they can talk to young people about their lives and still feel valued.

Neither does it make sense, in my mind,that in the name of localism, the Department for Communities and Local Government has pulled back from requiring house-builders to adopt inexpensive Lifetime Home standards requiring new homes to be built with wider doorways, for example, the kind of adaptations that older people seek in their homes in later life and which would enable them to stay in their homes for longer if they were already incorporated.

I totally support a campaign by Anchor Homes, Grey Pride, calling for the appointment of a Minister for Older People. After all, it is predicted that our elderly population will soon outnumber our young people, yet we have a Minister for Children, and no dedicated minister for our elderly population who face numerous difficulties, including poverty, health and dementia, isolation and loneliness, social care, etc.

The Anchor Homes petition states:

Older people are fast becoming one of the largest groups in the United Kingdom: the country now has a greater number of people aged 60 and over than it does people aged 16 and under.

Life expectancy will only continue to increase, and our Government will face significant challenges as it prepares to serve the ageing population. The UK has no choice but to ensure that older people can live comfortably and enjoy dignity and respect in their later years.

Despite making up 40% of voters, there is no Government minister dedicated to the well-being of older people. Theresa May MP is Minister for Women; Sarah Teather MP is Minister of State for Children and Families, but as it stands, older people’s issues are scattered throughout various Government departments. What is sorely lacking is a centralised Government portfolio that prioritises the needs of older people and ensures that their views and interests receive dedicated attention.

Many governments around the world, including those of Ireland and Canada, currently have a dedicated Minister for older people, and it is high time the UK followed suit. Both Wales and Northern Ireland have appointed an Older People’s Commissioner, but all older people living in the UK deserve a centralised ministerial post that looks after their needs.