Challenge on ageing
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation challenges attitudes to ageing
Poetry, research and technology have been brought together by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) as they challenge society to rethink attitudes to growing old. JRF last week launched a series of briefings, a dedicated website and a poem by Andrew Motion, the former poet laureate.
The website includes photography by Jo Hanley and Chris Steele-Perkins, including a section dedicated to photographs of people aged one hundred or over. The Foundation’s five briefings are based on interviews with older people. They cover older people with learning disabilities, older lesbian, gay and bisexual people, south Asian elders, Gypsy elders and people living with dementia.
JRF, which was founded on Quaker principles, is roughly mid-way into its five-year project on attitudes to ageing. It is entitled ‘A Better Life’. Despite the artistic nature of the photography and poem, the Foundation emphasises that the project is also about hard policy. The research is intended to conclude with clear, costed recommendations for politics and practice.
Julia Unwin, JRF’s chief executive, insisted that society needs to adapt to the demographic change of an aging population. She said: ‘Old age is not about “them”, it is about all of us. And the sooner we start listening to those with the experience, the sooner we can all start planning for a better life in old age.’
Comments
In the 70s I noticed anecdotally that Quakers died significantly older that readers of The Times. Two populations with some overlap and similar fitness in general. It seemed it was about a 6 year difference. Was this something to do with attending MfW ? As Eric Holtom said it was very centering.
By SarahL on 23rd February 2012 - 11:07
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