News
November 2008
Joan Bakewell – champion for the elderly
The government has appointed Dame Joan Bakewell to be a champion for the elderly.
Joan Bakewell played a key role in breaking down discrimination against women when she became one of the first high-profile female broadcasters during the 1960s.
As a Voice of Older People, her new role will be to act as an “independent and informed advocate” on older people’s issues.
She said: "With more and more of us expecting to live longer, there are issues that concern every individual: how will I provide for myself; how shall I afford such necessities as heating, lighting and insurance; what will my pension rights be; how much help can I expect from the state?”
It is estimated that by 2025 more than a third of the UK’s population will be over 55, a larger proportion that those aged under 25.
For more information for older people, visit the Directgov website