Should ageism be in the news as much as racism? – Helen Martin

Given a 71-year-old man was asked to sign a ‘do not resuscitate’ form even though he’d only broken his leg, are we treating ageism as seriously as we should, asks Helen Martin.

Iain Duncan Smith has suggested raising the pension age to 75 (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images)

IT was in 1969 when ageism became a serious topic of ill-treatment in the UK, whether it was losing a job, being refused credit and borrowing, or treated as second-rate citizens.

Nothing was done about it. But as people get older, it now becomes amusing and irritating for up to 20 years before one reaches 70.

When I hit 50, I started getting Saga letters, magazines and pamphlets. My son was 14, I’d just remarried, we were both working full-time, and buying a new house in an area where we were among the youngest in the neighbourhood.

Oh, how we laughed! Through the letter-box came ad leaflets for stair lifts, gadgets for opening jam jars, or incontinence pads. After a while that became annoying.

A few years ago, there was a suggestion that everyone should work until 70. By early 60s I’d got my pensions, we were working just one day a week but also acquired two rental flats, so that was another “job”.

Every week we are sent “easylife” catalogues which go straight in the bin. Another envelope arrived for me last week (I’m now 67). It contained four promotional leaflets: how to deal with men’s prostate problems, types of furniture to assist mobility, baths and showers for the immobile, and how to pay for one’s funeral. God, that was depressing.

Next day I heard a 71-year-old Glasgow man was in hospital having broken his arm and being encouraged to sign a “do not resuscitate” form. Wasn’t that bad enough when confined to Covid? Then this month Tory Iain Duncan Smith (who is 66) suggested raising the pension age to 75! Perhaps ageism should be as topical now as racism?

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