Nearly all parties are ignoring older survivors of abuse during the general election

A leading charity, Hourglass, has voiced its disappointment at the level of commitment to support older victim-survivors of abuse, neglect, and exploitation in party general election manifestos.

Hourglass: taking the OATH

Hourglass is the only UK-wide charity focused on older victims and survivors of abuse. As it notes on its website:

Every year, over two and a half million people in the UK are affected by the physical, emotional, economic, or sexual abuse and neglect of older women and men.

Hourglass, the UK’s sole charity entirely focused on confronting this epidemic of harm, abuse, and neglect inflicted upon older people, believes it is time we built a Safer Ageing Society. We need to shape a new approach that prioritises the safety and security of older people, free from abuse, especially as the number of older people continues to climb. But this is no overnight project. We need support, understanding and, importantly, parity.

However, Hourglass has condemned the lack of innovation and understanding in the vast majority of UK party manifestos – with only the DUP mentioning the issue, and Sinn Fein and the Green Party (England and Wales) endorsing the OATH campaign (Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope).

The charity, which deals with around 50,000 contacts relating to older victim-survivors, has produced its manifesto ahead of the election which calls for policies that would support safer ageing including a strategy to tackle abuse of older people, funding for specialist older people support and measures that would raise public awareness of these issues.

The OATH campaign specifically calls for a Safer Ageing Society by 2050.

General election: all but ignoring keeping older people safe

Veronica Gray, deputy CEO of Hourglass and policy director, explained:

Hourglass runs a 24/7 helpline and casework service and despite seeing a dramatic increase in case work since the pandemic, policy makers continue to ignore this policy imperative. It’s a scandal.

We are disappointed that parties have all but ignored policies which support safer ageing at this election. Though there are some broader commitments to fund services and to improve funding to the criminal justice system which are welcome, older people specific policies are required.

We welcome the much-needed profile for the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy (VAWG) and we are, of course, entirely supportive of these commitments. However, with over 2.5 million people affected by the abuse of older people, a suite of policies focusing on this area are long overdue. Especially as there appears to be no end to the growth in casework. We strongly urge the new government to speak to us when elected and look at investing in this still hidden form of abuse.

The Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has committed in their manifesto to “support tough measures to address all forms of elder abuse, including financial crime.” The charity acknowledges that this is an important commitment, but Hourglass feels the public need more detail on how they plan to achieve this.

It hopes the other major political parties will join both Sinn Féin and the Green Party in formally endorsing Hourglass’s Older Age Tomorrow’s Hope (OATH) campaign. Anyone can sign the OATH here.

Hourglass has also completed analysis of all major UK political parties’ manifestos assessing their commitments to supporting older people and abuse services. While most parties included strategies to tackle domestic abuse, this was usually through a Violence Against Women and Girls strategy rather than a specific strategy directed towards older victims.

Support Hourglass if you can

Hourglass will be releasing a full analysis of party manifestos, which looks at the key strengths and weaknesses of this from a safer ageing perspective.

The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to donate by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

Featured image via Envato Elements