All-Party Parliamentary Group
Age UK provides the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Ageing and Older People.
The APPG works to engage with the political and legislative issues before parliament affecting people in later life. The group covers a wide range of issues from housing and transport to health and social care.
Want to attend?
If you are interested in finding out more about any of these meetings, email alison.trew@ageuk.org.uk or phone 020 3033 1354.
APPG for Ageing and Older People – housing inquiry – dates to note in 2018/19
This year we are excited to announce that the APPG will launch an inquiry into housing standards for older people. Six meetings will take place between 21 November and 7 May, and following this inquiry a report will be released with recommendations for government. Details of the meetings can be found below.
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Wednesday 21 November 4pm Committee room 18 |
Meeting 1 Aim: Provide and introductory overview of how poor inaccessible housing affects older people and impacts on health and social care services. |
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Wednesday 16 January 4pm |
Meeting 2 Aim: Review the extent and implications of poor inaccessible housing across different tenures: - Homeowners - Social rented sector - Private rented sector - Retirement housing |
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Monday 11 February 4pm |
Meeting 3
Aim: Review of the reasons for the variations in the quality and conditions in supported housing for older people |
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Wednesday 20 March 4pm |
Meeting 4
Aim: Focus on the private rented sector and the implications of the growth in older tenants for standards both here and in other parts of Europe. |
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Tuesday 7 May
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Meeting 5
Aim: To discuss solutions to the issues and problems identified in the previous sessions. |
Human rights and older people
June 2018 - APPG report launch: Protecting our rights as we age
On 27 June 2018, we proudly launched our report Protecting our rights as we age, which calls on the UK government to support an international convention on the rights of older people.
This was one of several recommendations following an inquiry into the human rights of older people, set up to understand the challenges facing older people and how their rights could be better protected. The convention would support eradicating discrimination towards older people globally across areas like money, health, and employment.
Read our report to find out more.
Protecting our rights as we age (PDF, 217 KB)
April 2018 - The right to long term and palliative care
We discussed problems with the current social care system as a human rights issue that affects individuals and to suggest actions to alleviate them.
- What are the consequences of poor care and how do they undermine someone’s dignity and wellbeing? What does ‘good, person centred care’ look like?
- What are the reasons behind unmet social care need? What human rights protection could address this?
- Across the world older people are suffering as a result of insufficient care at the end of their lives. What could the UK government do to help?
March 2018 - Autonomy and independence
The meeting discussed what can be done to ensure older people are able to lead autonomous lives, maintaining their contribution to and involvement in society, regardless of physical and health conditions.
- Are existing human rights standards and norms sufficient for protecting older people’s autonomy and independence?
- What happens at the boundaries of independence, when someone may lack capacity or need care that could restrict their freedom?
January 2018 - Highlighting good practice
What does good human rights protection look like?
We heard from key speakers sharing their lessons and outcomes from several good practice case studies.
October 2017 - Launch of the inquiry and its aims
The group launched the inquiry in October and we discussed what the group should consider as part of its work.
Our aim is to understand how older people’s human rights can best be protected. This includes:
- Understanding the situation facing older people both in the UK and internationally
- Understanding the adequacy of human rights standards in the UK and internationally for protecting the rights of older people
Loneliness
January 2018 - Meeting on loneliness
The APPG held a special meeting in January to discuss the recommendations from the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness. The meeting explored actions Parliamentarians can take in light of these in order to reduce loneliness nationally and locally.
Future meetings
Once the APPG's human rights inquiry is complete we will be planning future meetings on a range of topics that affect older people. Look out for updates on this page or email robert.henderson@ageuk.org.uk or call 020 3033 1354 if you would like to be added to the APPG's mailing list to receive updates on the group's plans.