The concept of social exclusion explicitly recognises that material exclusion is both caused by and causes exclusion from other domains essential for wellbeing, and builds on a longstanding tradition within public policy and social science research. However, the terminology ‘social exclusion’ is perhaps most synonymous with the former Labour government, with the coalition government having disbanded the Social Exclusion Unit Taskforce. In its place there exists something of a gulf in terminology to replace the usage of ‘social exclusion’ in policy-terms, although the concept itself continues to play some part in policy making, while the term itself is still widely used within academic research and in EU and UN policy In comparison to children, young people, and families, social exclusion among older people has received little attention. This is despite the fact that it is perhaps among this group that the notion of social exclusion is most pertinent, with older people at high risk of social isolation and loneliness, as well as exhibiting substantial inequalities in income and housing. In addition, within the extant evidence base, there has been comparatively little longitudinal research into social exclusion patterns among older people. At this event, ILC-UK presented the results from a report examining social exclusion among older people, 'Is Social Exclusion still important for Older People?', sponsored by Age UK. The work investigated trends in the number of socially excluded people, and examined their outcomes. Other speakers will also contribute to a debate that explores the underlying question of whether social exclusion should remain part of public policy and if ‘social exclusion is still important for older people’. Agenda from the event: 08:15 – 08:30 Registration with Tea/Coffee/Pastries 08:30 – 08:35 Welcome - David Sinclair, ILC-UK 08:35 - 08:50 Is Social Exclusion still important for Older People? - Dylan Kneale, ILC-UK 08:50 - 09:10 Greg Lewis, Age UK Justin Russell, Department for Work and Pensions 09:10 - 09:25 Debate 09:25 – 09:30 Close - David Sinclair, ILC-UK

1. Is Social Exclusion still important
for Older People?
19 September 2012
This event is kindly supported by Age UK
#sociallyexcluded

2. Welcome
David Sinclair
Assistant Director, Policy and Communications
ILC-UK
This event is kindly supported by Age UK
#sociallyexcluded

3. Is Social Exclusion still important
for Older People?
Dylan Kneale
Head of Research
ILC-UK
This event is kindly supported by Age UK
#sociallyexcluded

4. Is Social Exclusion still important for
Older People?
Dylan Kneale, ILC-UK
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

5. What is social exclusion?
Broadest sense
The ‘exclusion’ in social exclusion
No, Arguably apolitical with a rich academic history
UN, Europe…UK?
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

6. What is social exclusion for older
people?
Social exclusion for adults centred around
employment and opportunities – older people?
For older people – much about keeping
independent; Excluded from aspects of life that
keep independent
Philipson and Scharf (2004): 4 risk factors
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

7. The current study I
 Using data from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
 Adapting framework by Barnes et al (2006); change between 2002 and
2008
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

8. What we found: Level of social
exclusion I
18.0%
16.0% Exclusion from Social
Relationships
14.0% +5.3%
+5.6% Exclusion from Cultural
+1.1% Activities
12.0%
Exclusion from Civic
10.0% Activities and Information
-0.6%
8.0% -1.7% Exclusion from Local
Amenities
-0.8%
6.0%
Exclusion from Decent
Housing and Public
4.0% Transport
-6.5%
Exclusion from Financial
2.0% Products
0.0% Exclusion from Common
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
Consumer Goods
2002 2008
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

9. What we found: Level of social
exclusion II
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

10. What we found: Level of social
exclusion III
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

11. Who is most likely to be excluded? (2008)
 Some likely suspects – but differs by domain…
 Overall:
 Demographic: Older; Non-white; Childless; Lived
Alone/Lived with Children and No Partner/Lived without
Partner
 Health: Off work sick; Poor self-rated health; No regular
uptake of physical exercise; Depressed; Experienced a
fall
 Socioeconomic: Poor-in the lowest quintile of equivilised
household income; Living in rented housing; No car;
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
Living on benefits issuesthe main source of income
dedicated to addressing
as of longevity, ageing and population change.

12. Longitudinal analyses: transitions
6 years
2002 2008
50+ in 2002
More excluded Less excluded
24% 19%
50-59 in 2002
More excluded Less excluded
22% 21%
80+ in 2002
More excluded Less excluded
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to 35%
addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population19%
change.

13. Longitudinal analyses: predictors
 Based on characteristics in 2002, who was most likely to be
excluded in 2008?
 Experienced disadvantage in 2002 (material and non-
material); Older; Lived Alone; Poor self-rated health;
Depressed; Poor: in the lowest quintile of equivilised
household income; Living in rented housing; No car
 Which changes in people’s characteristics were associated
with becoming more excluded?
 People who assumed caring responsibilities, who started
to live alone, who became too sick to work, who
developedLongevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank became
The International poorer self-rated health, people who
depressed, and issues of longevity, ageing and up less exercise
dedicated to addressing
people who took population change.

14. Longitudinal analyses: outcomes
0
Two domains
Decent Housing
One domain
Three or more domains
Social Relationships
Common Consumer Goods
Cultural Activities
Financial Products
Civic Activities
Exclusion from Local Amenities
-0.5
-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
-3.5 dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

15. Recommendations
1 Shift policy directions away from ‘older people’s policies’ to ‘ageing policies’ in
order to tackle increasing exclusion among middle aged people
2 Allocate the task of measuring and developing strategies to overcome material
and non-material disadvantage simultaneously to a specific unit or team within
government
3 Improve planning of neighbourhoods for people of all ages to reduce levels of
exclusion from local amenities and decent housing and public transport
4 Instigate further research into the trigger factors and roles of public
policy and services in helping older people move from being socially
excluded
5 Encourage greater development of outreach provision to reach the
hardest to reach before crises occur
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

16. Recommendations
6 Support programmes to encourage the development/uptake of financial
products among disadvantaged older people
7 Development of a widowhood strategy
8 Provision of additional support for carers
9 Greater investment in physical exercise services for older people with
specific focus on how to retain older people in programmes of physical
exercise
10 Reduction of gender inequalities in social exclusion through expansion
of existing intervention programmes
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

17. Conclusions
 Advantages of social exclusion can also represent
disadvantages
 At the heart of voluntary exclusion is involuntary
exclusion?
 Benefit is short-hand way for policy-makers to assess
necessary domains for maintaining independence and
autonomy
 Often criticise lack of ‘joined-up’ thinking in policy – ‘social
exclusion’ bucks this trend
 Some irrefutable evidence e.g. boomers
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.

18. Greg Lewis
Programme Manager – Communities and Society
Age UK
Justin Russell
Director – Ageing Society and State Pensions
Department for Work and Pensions
This event is kindly supported by Age UK
#sociallyexcluded

19. Panel Debate and Q&A
This event is kindly supported by Age UK
#sociallyexcluded

20. Is Social Exclusion still important
for Older People?
19 September 2012
This event is kindly supported by Age UK
#sociallyexcluded