At the National Pensioners’ Parliament Convention in Blackpool yesterday (8 June 2010) Professor Sarah Harper, Director, Oxford Institute of Ageing, University of Oxford urged participants to take a strong stance on the United Kingdom default retirement age of sixty-five which still allows employers to remove active experienced people from the labour market at age sixty-five regardless of their contribution and standing.
Professor Harper stated that: “Research from our global survey has clearly shown that modern older people want to take control of their lives throughout their adulthood and they should take responsibility for deciding here and now for their own retirement.”
“From those countries who have already abolished retirement ages there is little evidence that older people work beyond their capabilities The majority of older people today are well aware of the limitations which may come with increased age but they wish to take responsibility for changing their own lives.”
Sarah Harper shared the platform at the 18th National Pensioners’ Parliament 2010 with Professor David Oliver, National Clinical Director for Older People, Department of Health who also talked about the importance of allowing older people control over their own health decisions.
