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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that Age UK should not be moving their goalposts.

39 replies

Touchwood2654 · 11/09/2025 09:09

So our local Age UK now supports anyone over 16. Talk about diluting services. What is the point of them if they are not supporting just those over 55?

We are a rapidly aging population and the elderly are often overlooked when services are planned.
Surely Age UK's meagre resources will now be stretched very thinly?
AIBU to think this is a wrong move?

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 11/09/2025 09:44

ghostyslovesheets · 11/09/2025 09:34

Define ‘support’ - if you mean training as volunteers, support for young carerers, work experience in their shops then what’s the issue?

This. Many young people care for older people. They need every bit of support they can get.

Noshadelamp · 11/09/2025 09:42

Is it support for carers or family of aged people?

Jamesblonde2 · 11/09/2025 09:42

That’s madness OP. They need to get a grip.

SussexLass87 · 11/09/2025 09:39

This is just the Islington branch?

nutbrownhare15 · 11/09/2025 09:36

It sounds like they have won a local contract to support 16+. If it keeps their services viable I don't have a problem with this.

CraftyNavySeal · 11/09/2025 09:35

What kind of support?

Maybe in your area they offer support for some things that aren’t covered by anyone else so they get funding for it.

Maybe 16 year olds need support for caring for elderly relatives

Need more information

Coffeeishot · 11/09/2025 09:34

Do you have a link Op ?

ghostyslovesheets · 11/09/2025 09:34

Define ‘support’ - if you mean training as volunteers, support for young carerers, work experience in their shops then what’s the issue?

Canadanny · 11/09/2025 09:33

I've had a look at our local one and it definitely still seems to be offering similar support

The center is a community hub thing so it allows younger people to join cancer care stuff by mcmillian

They could also go to things like their advice for carer benefits etc

I suspect they are trying to plug a gap where there is often a big absence in services for people who need support prematurely for things like frailty. My mum has had arthritis since a young ish age thus was frail and would have benefitted from a lot of the transport, seated exercise classes, carer support, equipment loan type stuff that in our age where restricted to older adults. She also had a stroke and it was a struggle to find stroke related community stuff for her age group at the time. Its the same with dementia care, despite their being many types of dementia impacting people younger than 65 or similar cognitive things eg stroke related issues where you can fall in a big gap between services

Its why you regularly find carehomes with loads of older people then some random younger eople shoehorned in because theres less specific services tailored to care homes for young people with brain injuries for example.

I haven't seen any sort of statement though so I'm not sure

lljkk · 11/09/2025 09:33

Does someone have a link to this policy change?

smallpinecone · 11/09/2025 09:31

I think it’s outrageous they’re not supporting those under 16 then, if they’re including absolutely everyone else. Why exclude the very young? Ageism 😄

BauhausOfEliott · 11/09/2025 09:27

Presumably support for younger people is in the form of those who need advice and support on caring for older relatives, though.

squashyhat · 11/09/2025 09:27

That's ridiculous.

YourLemonTiger · 11/09/2025 09:23

I'd, obviously incorrectly, always assumed Age UK was a charity to support those at least over retirement age!!

55 isn't aged and 16 is practically a child.

Maybe it's for anyone who identifies as aged? 😂

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