Older Black Caribbean people in England are facing deep-rooted inequalities in health, housing and income as a result of lifelong racism and discrimination, a new report from Age UK has revealed.
The charity’s report, titled ‘Ageing while Black: the experiences of older Black Caribbean people in England’, draws on interviews and data to understand what it’s like to age as a black person in our country. Sadly, it’s contents show how decades of systemic disadvantage – compounded by ageism in later life – continue to undermine access to services, including the NHS, financial security and wellbeing.
Published yesterday (15th September), the report revealed participants often felt mistrusted and excluded, particularly in instances that involved health and housing. One woman in her 80s from Birmingham recalled being asked whether she had a tail.
She said: ‘I was in the catering department and this lady came up to me and said, “can I ask you something?”, so I said “what?”, she said “do you have a tail?”. I asked her what she meant by ‘tail’. She said it was because monkeys do have tails.’
In similar vein, another woman explained she had been treated with ‘patronising’ care during her pregnancy compared with her white peers. She said: ‘The way they talked to you and cared for you as a pregnant Black woman was different, patronising, dismissive. I saw how my White friends were treated with patience and care, and I was just expected to get on with it.’
The report builds on Age UK’s existing work supporting the Windrush Generation and highlights the ongoing damage caused by the scandal and wider hostile environment policies.
Statistical findings within the research are stark: one in four Black pensioners live in poverty, compared to one in six overall. Health outcomes for Black Caribbean men and women are equivalent to those of white people a decade older. Home ownership rates are significantly lower, and older Black Caribbean households are more than twice as likely to live in social housing.
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Age UK, said: ‘Many of the older Black Caribbean people interviewed for this report have seen the best and the worst of times. They have contributed massively to our society, brought up families and built communities, but it’s clear that in many cases they have also been impacted by racism, injustice and institutional discrimination, including the well-known Windrush Scandal.
‘The message in this report is clear and we must learn from it for the future. And as many in this community enter later life, we must ensure they receive the help and support they need and deserve.’
Against this backdrop, the report – which can be found in full here – includes ten policy recommendations, such as action on ethnicity pay and pension gaps, better data collection and culturally competent services.
Timi Okuwa, chief executive of the Black Equity Organisation, said: ‘Our hope is that this report is a catalyst for change – so that older Black Caribbean people can age with dignity, security and equity.’
Photo by Giuseppe Cantiello via UnSplash
In related news:
Leave a Reply