From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges ...

Table 2: Perceptions of how one is respected as one gets older18-29 30-49 50-59 60-69 70+ Allyears years years years yearsMore respect 54% 29% 26% 25% 42% 36%Less respect 13% 22% 25% 25% 22% 20%The same 27% 47% 48% 50% 35% 41%Don’t know 6% 3% 1% 1% 2% 3%18When these perceptions and experiences were considered for men, women and people with differentlevels of education and income, there were no significant differences in the patterns emerging. Therewere some persistent differences, however, when tenure status was considered. People living inrented accommodation were more likely to perceive that people were treated worse as they got olderand the difference in perceptions between those renting and those who owned their own homes wasparticularly marked for people aged sixty years and over: 57 per cent of the former categorycompared to 25 per cent of the latter perceived that older people were treated worse than thegeneral population. When people’s own experiences of receiving less respect were considered, thedifference between those aged sixty years and over in rented and those in owner-occupiedaccommodation was much less marked: 33 per cent of the former category relative to 22 per cent ofthe latter. The most important point here is that whichever group one considers, a significantminority of people aged sixty years and over reported experiencing less respect as they got older.Policy Action and ServicesTable 3 presents data on respondents’ perceptions of the adequacy of action for older people takenby public authorities.Table 3: Perceptions of adequacy of action taken by public authorities for older people18-29 30-49 50-59 60-69 70+ Allyears years years years yearsDo all they should 18% 21% 29% 35% 51% 26%Do too much 0%