There are 12 million Pensioners in the UK!

20.7 million people are aged 50 years and over, over a third of the UK population.

There are more people over 60 than under 18.

Nearly 1.3 million are aged 85 and above and 11,000 are centenarians.

These figures are predicted to increase in the next 25 years with the percentage of people over 65 rising to 15.8 million making up nearly quarter of the population.

Current life expectancy at 65 is 85.2 for women and 82.3 for men. However, if you were born in the South you have a better chance of getting there. For instance statistically a female born in Glasgow can expect to live 10.7 years less than someone born in Chelsea. For males the gap is 12.9 years!

One in four children born today can expect to live to 100 years old.

Poverty - 2.5 million Pensioners live below the poverty line which is defined as £151 per week for a single person and £226 for a couple.

Up to 41% of older people in the UK eligible for Pension Credit do not take up their entitlement. If the State Pension is all you have then Pension Credit can increase the basic pension of a single Pensioner from £95 per week to £130, couples from £152 to £198.

In March 2008 energy prices were 50% above their 2003 levels in real terms. Last summer prices rose by an average of around 30% for gas and 14% for electricity.

36% of people over 60 sometimes stay or live in just one heated room to save money.

Money - The UK spends about 5% of its GDP on pension benefits, less than most other European countries. 1.3 million Pensioners in the UK have no source of income other than the State pension.

Loneliness - Half of all people over 75 live alone and nearly half of all older people (about 4.6 million) consider the TV as their main form of company.

Well over half a million older people spent Christmas Day alone last year.

Over 1.1 million older people feel trapped in their own homes with 17% having less than weekly contact with family, friends or neighbours.

Leisure 168,000 people over 60 in England participated in state-funded learning last year.

Only 30% of people over 65 have ever used the Internet.

People aged 65 and over spend on average three and three quarter hours a day watching TV.

Discrimination - 60% of older people in the UK agree that age discrimination exists in the daily lives of older people.

53% of adults agree that once you reach very old age people tend to treat you as a child.

68% of older people agree that politicians see older people as low priority.

97% of annual travel insurance policies impose an upper age limit.

Abuse - It is estimated that more than 500,000 older people in the UK are abused (about 5%).

Every hour over 50 older people are neglected or abused in their own homes by family members, neighbours or care workers.

Abuse - can take many forms; the most common are psychological, financial, physical and sexual.

Illness - Falls represent half of hospital admissions for accidental injury. Half of those with hip fractures never regain their former level of function and one in five dies within 3 months.

55% of people aged 60+ are deaf or hard of hearing.

1 in 3 people over 65 will die with dementia.

It is estimated that by 2025 over 1 million people will be suffering from Dementia.

Depression affects up to 15% of over 65s living in the community and 40% of people living in care homes.

Between 3 and 3.5 million people suffer from incontinence in the UK. More than half are over 65 and the majority are women.

There are over 100,000 first strokes every year in the UK and 90% of these affect people over 65 years old.

There are an estimated 9 million people in the UK suffering from arthritis.

Three quarters of NHS clients are aged 65 and over but they receive only two fifths of total expenditure.

64% of older people think health and care staff don’t always treat older people with respect for their dignity.

In 2008 there were estimated to be about 394,000 older people in residential care.

The UK average for a place in a private residential home is £24,492 per year. For nursing care this goes up to £35,100.

There are between 5 and 6 million unpaid carers looking after a relative or friend.

Unpaid carers are currently saving the UK economy an estimated £87 billion per year.

If you would like to discuss any of this further please call me at Age Concern Winchester on 01962 840667 or email me at ac.winchester@btclick.com.