United Nations International Day of Older Persons

The United Nations International Day of Older Persons takes place on 1 October each year and aims to promote the opportunities and challenges of population ageing.

The number of older people (defined as those aged 65 years or older) tripled from around 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021. The UN’s website says: “By 2030, older persons are projected to outnumber youth globally, with this increase most rapid in developing countries.”

Why is ageing a trade union issue?

A good standard of living is essential. PCS is actively defending the Civil Service Pension Scheme and it features prominently in our national campaign. We are also campaigning against the scrapping of the Winter Fuel Payment.

Women contribute roughly 70% of informal care hours globally. PCS campaigns for flexible working, for people to be allowed to work from home and to close the gender pay gap.

As populations age, the demand for healthcare and social support has surged, especially with conditions like dementia, a major cause of dependency and disability in older adults. PCS continues to campaign against cuts to the NHS and public services which are needed to support our ageing population.

Join our online event

PCS Associate and Retired Members (ARMs) are commemorating the Day of Older Persons this with a Zoom event on Thursday 3 October from 12:30pm to 2:00pm. Our theme is "Supporting the rights of older people which affect all generations."

The event is open to all PCS members as the theme is relevant to many older people who continue to work, and other issues are intergenerational, affecting families and future generations.

There will be four guest speakers at the event: Mohammed Shafiq, chair of PCS national black members' committee, Eileen Cawley, development officer for the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, Liz Jones from Greater Manchester Older People’s Network and Ruth London from Fuel Poverty Action.

Poverty, digital exclusion, discrimination and the need for access to health care and social care and support do not have any age boundaries. Neither should our society.