The Hourglass Manifesto

 

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. It’s an issue which has reached epidemic proportions but too often remains hidden from the headlines.

 

This stark reality is an indictment of our society's treatment and regard for older people. The rise in the abuse of older people isn't a niche issue; but it has now escalated to an intolerable level demanding immediate attention and action. Yet still governments, local authorities and other key agencies file this abuse under Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and often ignore the unique nature of this horrific abuse.

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. But we believe a Safer Ageing Society is possible by 2050 in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

 

Why parity? Because care and legislation across the UK is a patchwork of provision. Some areas have specialist support and training and others do not. Different parts of the UK protect older people in differing ways, and some better than. others. Vital data is available in some nations and regions, but is sketchy or non-existent
elsewhere. It’s a lottery.

 

Funding parity is also necessary. Currently it is unfairly distributed. Hourglass is in a funding no man’s land – where the charity is neither seen as a frontline service or a niche specialist service. Therefore, the charity misses out on funding at both ends of the spectrum. The truth is, of course, that Hourglass is a frontline charity but the issue of the abuse of older people simply isn’t recognised as a major concern.

 

The media often shy away from reporting the abuse of older people; it is barely mentioned in the four legislatures across the UK, and unless you are confronted with the issue head-on, people prefer to believe it doesn’t exist at all. And that means the abuse of older people is the last taboo.

 

Our entire charitable objective is to end the abuse of older people and to work towards a safer ageing society. For over thirty years we've been lobbying for tangible change and parity with other forms of abuse. But this lobbying, campaigning and desperate search for much needed funding and support goes on whilst our 24/7 helpline continues to battle growing call numbers. Our team deals with the distressing realities and harrowing tales of abuse and neglect all day, every day and every night, 365 days per year. It requires a specialist team, drawing from over three decades of organisational expertise, to deal with the growing impacts Hourglass is now recording.