Supporting Old People in the Community

Abstract

The twentieth century has seen a large increase in the number of people surviving to old age (see Chap. 2). As people age and become more frail they have to rely increasingly on the help of others in order to continue living in the community. In Britain, this century has also seen the birth and development of the Welfare State and the introduction of laws and policies to provide for those who have difficulty in caring for themselves. The vast majority of old people are to some extent dependent on the State. Once workers reach pensionable age, for example, the government policy of compulsory retirement from state-funded jobs leaves many people dependent on the state pension.