A Christian who specialises in issues affecting older people has said they're "being betrayed" after new research found nearly a million over-75s are living in
Louise Morse, from the Christian care home network Pilgrim Friend's Trust, was speaking after Independent Age's report found 1 in 5 over-75s now lives in poverty in the UK.
Independent Age defined the threshold for poverty in its studies as £182 a week before housing costs for a single pensioner and £272 per week for couples.
The charity has said 750,000 over-75s are not claiming benefits they're entitled to which would top up their income, and that the 'silent generation' of pensioners who lived through the Second World War are being forgotten while public discussion focuses on the wealth of younger 'baby boomers'.
Speaking to Premier, Louise Morse said: "They paid into a system that they thought would be there for them when they needed care.
"Most of the NHS spending goes on older people when they begin to die - not keeping them alive.
"There was a report... last week in the press about 211 older people who were discharged from hospital far too early... and one elderly lady died in the arms of her granddaughter on the way home.
"They're regarded as disposable at the moment and they are being betrayed."
Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Louise Morse:
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
