Last month on the 23rd June 2022 one of the real heroes of older peoples’ care and rights, Baroness Sally Greencross died. Sadly I never met her, but she has been one of the most influential figures in redefining how societies across the world have responded to the changes resulting from our ageing world. Her passionate commitment to human rights and equality inspired all she met and underlined everything she achieved.
From 1987 to 2000 she served as the Director General of Age Concern (now AgeUK) and helped transform it by developing its links with the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) from whom she received a lifetime achievement award. During this time she also set up the International Longevity Centre-UK as part of the ILC Global Alliance. As ILC’s Chief Executive and member of the House of Lords, she continued to work tirelessly to support government, business and the third sector to adapt positively to demographic change.
There are few people who have championed the rights and protections needed for older people as passionately and committedly as Baroness Sally Greengross.
Sally was also the founder and patron of the charity Action Against Elder Abuse now called Hourglass the UK’s only charity focused on the abuse and neglect of older people, which staff a free-to-call helpline. She was an unconditional advocate for the victims of elder abuse. My thoughts go out to her family, friends and everyone fortunate to have known her or who have been affected by her sterling work in this area.
Hourglasses tribute to her, the link is below, underlines the extent of her loss to all working at combatting ageism and elder abuse in the UK and worldwide.
She was campaigning right up until the end. This is from the 15 June which was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day #WEAAD2022
Raymond's Older Peoples' Blog 