Scandal of how Britain treats its elderly

The UK comes a shameful 27th in a global assessment of health provision for older people – behind countries like Costa Rica and Colombia.

The poll ranks Britain as the 11th best place overall in the world to grow old out of 96 nations – a rise of two places on last year.

But British OAPs do not enjoy the same generous pensions and retirement opportunities enjoyed by their peers in other countries, says the latest Global AgeWatch Index.

The results underline the importance of the Daily Express Respect for the Elderly Crusade to improve quality of life for Britain’s older people. The UK is well down the table when it comes to poverty levels among pensioners and also lags behind in the psychological wellbeing of older people, says the index, from HelpAge International.

Many of Britain’s old people suffer through loneliness. But for factors such as physical safety, civic freedom and access to public transport, known as “age-friendly environment”, the UK is Number Three.

Dr Ros Altmann, the Government’s business champion for older people, said: “It’s worrying we are only Number 27 for health, which covers life expectancy, physical and mental wellbeing, and Number 23 for employment and educational status of older people. We are trailing well behind many other countries.”

The index helps identify the services and systems older people need.

Jane Vass, head of public policy at Age UK, said: “There is clearly room for improvement and the UK should aspire to do better.

“It has a vastly underfunded social care system which is having a devastating impact on frail older people and their families. We need to look beyond someone’s age and strive for a society where people of all ages are valued equally.”

The best three places to be old are Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The worst is Afghanistan.