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It’s the truth – we’ve never had it so good
I am of course talking about old age. We may grumble about pensions,
the NHS, rights, respect, but we do enjoy a better standard of
living, greater freedom of opportunity and better health than ever
before.
Take pensions. During the 16th century, English communities made
arrangements through the Poor Law to support the neediest among
older people. But only the neediest. Contrary to received ideas, at
least 10 per cent of the populations of England, France and Spain
were aged over 60, even in the 18th century.
Pensions are under a hundred years old; pensions that are sufficient
to live on, even less, which is maybe why pension equality for women
still has to catch up.
The workhouses were set up in the 19th century for the ‘deserving’
poor and elderly, though both deserved better than was often
provided by these so-called benevolent institutions.
Older women (despite current pension inequality) have definitely
never had it so good. In the 17th century, those past the menopause
were considered to be endowed with menacing magical powers. Many
would be subject to witch-hunts and burned at the stake. An older
widow was considered lustful and dangerous, which might, by today’s
standards be considered a good thing, but not if the result was
ostracism, as it probably was at that time.
We may know much of this, but we forget. My reminder comes from a
remarkable new book called The Long History of Old Age, published by
Thames and Hudson*. It questions the idea that the old were
venerated in the past, and concludes, from the evidence, that ‘the
next generation has always been given priority’.
It’s still true. To younger generations the threat of an overload of
very old people causing a drain on resources is almost as potent as
global warming.
But we, in later life, know that’s not the case. ‘Old’
is not what it used to be. We may pension people off at 60 or 65,
('or older still, if the Government approves the Turner report') but they still
go on holiday, get to the gym, take part-time work, start up
businesses, look after the grandchildren, use the internet, get to
art galleries, opera, theatre, cinema. In other words, they are
still paid-up members of society, contributing to the economy.
Business and industry will increasingly call on a skilled older
workforce as the population ages. Yet under-employment of older
workers costs UK companies up to £31 billion a year. And £24 billion
is contributed to the economy by older volunteers.
A recent Government report suggests that learning facilities for
older people should be reduced because more money needs to be spent
on younger people in Further Education colleges. Here is a blatant
contest between young and old.
Access to courses and learning reduces isolation among many older
people, a fact which society largely accepts and believes is
valuable. In a recent survey carried out by the Association of
Colleges, 82 % of respondents felt that courses at further education
colleges should be free to all pensioners. Money must be available
for both age groups.
None of us truly believe that we will succumb to degenerative
disease, but for many it is a gradual reality. That’s when we are
most like the old as they were in the past and
when our very elderly deserve the care that we must give them. They
have worked, paid their taxes, made their own contribution to
society in the time when they were young.
The least we can do, if we call ourselves compassionate and caring
–
certainly at this time of the year – is to accept this with grace….
 *The Long History of Old Age, Thames and Hudson, edited by Pat
Thane, price £25, is not only a history, but also an art book,
encompassing paintings, drawings, photographs and cartoons from Goya
to Posy Simmonds and Lucien Freud, taking in Greek, Roman and
medieval art on the way. As a gift for someone interested in
history, art and age, it couldn’t be bettered.
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Talkback is a
regular feature in laterlife.com run by
journalist and author Helen Franks. 
