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A national older people's charity today called on local leaders to "radically rethink" their approach to ageing as they face the huge challenge of addressing the growing needs of an ageing society while under relentless pressure to slash budgets.

Age UK has issued a manifesto calling for a step-change to local government policies and services for people in later life, in response to the current financial climate, with local public sector bodies and their partners set to grapple with the dilemma of more devolved powers and tightened budgets.

The charity said that while protecting crucial sectors, such as social care, would be imperative, the tough times ahead meant doing things differently, based on more involvement of older people in decision-making, more preventative action and more collaborative working to identify low-cost, effective solutions.

Belinda Wadsworth, strategy adviser for Age UK, said: "More devolved powers, tighter budgets and the cost of an ageing society are set to present local leaders with a formidable challenge. Rising to it and ensuring quality services for people in later life will require bold and brave leadership.

"A radical rethink is needed to allow people in later life to be more meaningfully involved in decision-making, to boost preventative measures and enable local public services to work more closely together to identity low-cost, effective solutions.

"As the leading charity for people in later life, Age UK is ready to roll up its sleeves and work with local leaders to redesign services to meet the needs of our ageing population."

Age UK is to launch its policy report, Local Action For Later Life, at the Local Government Association Group annual conference this week, setting out the key challenges to local public sector bodies and outlining how Age UK can work with them to address these.

The charity is calling on local public sector bodies to prepare for the 2011 public sector equality duty, protect social care provision from spending cuts, maximise benefit take-up and fight fuel poverty. It is also urging them to redeploy local NHS resources towards public health, prevention, community healthcare and social care and to commit to creating age-friendly services and public spaces.

Age UK was formed by the combination of Age Concern and Help the Aged, to create a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of people in later life. For more information go to www.ageuk.org.uk.

Source: Community Newswire