Oxfordshire Age UK to create "age-friendly" county

A report by Oxfordshire Age UK is to propose a 10-point plan to improve the situation of the elderly in the county. The plan, which involves turning Oxfordshire into “an age- friendly county” comes in response to several issues facing the elderly, especially in terms of financial equality.

Significant inequalities between rich and poor in the county in effect means that the elderly are living in “two separate counties,” as reported by the Bicester Advertiser.

Hence the title of the Age UK report is also “A Tale of Two Counties: Growing Older in Oxfordshire.” It recommends actions such as a drive on benefit take-ups, community support for people with dementia, and the creation of senior campuses at schools and colleges – at least one per district.

In order to put these initiatives into action, it is recommended that a council of elders be set up in every town. New forums will then be established to provide pensioners with a platform for voicing their views and concerns.

An important part of the initiative is that the county’s young will also be involved. The scheme will include student volunteers from Oxford Brookes University to teach computer skills to pensioners.

With the implementation of this plan, Oxford County will soon see a much happier population of pensioners, who find themselves empowered with new skills, new friends, and a new lease on life.

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