Equality and Human Rights Commission

This document focuses on equal access to services, freedom from discrimination, and human rights, for older people from minority or marginalised communities. It identifies seven themes of particular relevance:

• age
• black and minority ethnicity
• disability
• gender
• lesbian, gay and bisexual identity
• religion and belief, and
• transgender identity.

The document places this in its legal context, summarising key provisions of the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The core of the document is a description of 15 examples of projects provided by Age UK and the organisation’s partners that have been successful in promoting equality and human rights. Contact details for further information are provided for each project. The document is intended to provide ideas for reaching, engaging and supporting older people who are marginalised or excluded. It is aimed at professionals who influence, design, commission and/or deliver services for older people.
 

• Older people from minority or marginalised communities face particular difficulties in accessing services on an equal basis with others.
• Projects that take into account human rights and equality issues can, and have, overcome some of these difficulties.
   

This document is part of Age UK’s expert series for people influencing, designing, commissioning and delivering services for later life. It starts by outlining important beliefs on which Age UK’s work is grounded. The organisation believes in a society in which people in later life from all sectors of the community have equal access to services, are free from discrimination, and have their human rights promoted and protected.

Age UK identifies seven themes it considers of particular relevance:

• age
• black and minority ethnicity
• disability
• gender
• lesbian, gay and bisexual identity
• religion and belief, and
• transgender identity.

In each case the document explains reasons why people may experience difficulties – derived from certain aspects of their identity – in accessing services.

The legal context

The document summarises key aspects of the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. It lists the 'protected characteristics' of the Equality Act and explains the core content of the public sector equality duty, noting that it requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all aspects of equality protected by the Act.

The document briefly notes the importance of the HRA – emphasising in particular that rights in the Act are 'not only about matters of life and death, but are also relevant to everyday life issues and situations'. The rights are based on core principles of:

• fairness
• respect
• equality
• dignity
• autonomy.

The projects

The projects outlined in the document were selected to demonstrate 'a range of approaches, themes and environments'. They are:

• Promoting human rights principles with older people – Age UK Derby & Derbyshire
• Health and wellbeing for disabled older people – Age UK Wigan Borough
• Building trust with older Gypsies and Travellers – Age UK Norfolk
• Putting human rights into practice – Age UK Stockport
• Empowering black and minority ethnic older people – Age UK Hillingdon
• Targeted health and wellbeing for older people with impairments or health conditions – Age UK Northamptonshire
• Communicating the needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people – Highland Rainbow Folk
• Addressing inequalities experienced by black and minority ethnic older people – Age Concern Support Services – Yorkshire & Humber
• Day services that appeal to older men – Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire
• Engaging isolated black and minority ethnic older people – Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
• Supporting older carers of people with learning disabilities – Age UK Leeds
• Challenging age discrimination and disadvantage in local policy – Age UK Wirral
• Welcoming older women who are lesbian, bisexual and transgender – Age UK Camden
• Taking age and faith seriously – PSALM, London
• Enabling older people to tackle age discrimination – Age UK Redbridge

For each project the document explains its implementation and lists the benefits and outcomes. These are varied and include:

• allaying fears about going into care
• reducing social isolation
• improving independence
• supporting communities to look after their older people
• creating cultural awareness among service providers
• enhancing take-up of physical activity
• increasing capacity of older volunteers
• proving respite for older men who are carers, and
• improvements to mental health.

Contact details for further information are also provided for each project.

Key practice issues

• promoting human rights principles with older people
• health and wellbeing for disabled older people
• working with older Gypsies and Travellers
• working with black and minority ethnic older people
• working with older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
• day services for older men
• older carers of people with learning disabilities
• working with older people of faith.

Related equality messages

Projects that take into account principles of equality and non-discrimination can, and have, overcome some of the difficulties faced by older people in accessing services.

Date of review

March 2012

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