ASS066-1: Equity Act 2010 Impact on Elderly Service Users

This essay examines the Equity Act 2010, focusing on the protection of elderly service users' rights in the United Kingdom. It explores the needs of this demographic, including personal safety, financial security, and healthcare access, while addressing challenges such as ageism in the workplace. The essay evaluates the policy's effectiveness, particularly in light of the UK's departure from the European Union, and discusses the potential links between societal changes and the service user group. It highlights relevant policies and initiatives like the Independent Living Strategy and the Equality and Human Rights Commission's role in enforcing the Act. The essay also details various forms of discrimination faced by the elderly, such as direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimization, providing a comprehensive analysis of the Act's impact and effectiveness in promoting equality.

Running head: Policy
Equity Act
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors Note

2Equity Act 2010
Introduction
The Equity Act 2010 is an act which has been proposed by the government of United
Kingdom to protect everyone’s rights in the workplace across the country. Primary objective
of the act is to consolidate, update and supplement the previous acts and regulations for
removing the discrimination from the culture of the society (www.legislation.gov.uk, 2020).
There are nine aspects on which the discrimination were done across the country such as
age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation,
pregnancy and maternity, civil partnership and marriage. The assignment will consider older
adult groups as the service user of this act.
Discussion
Needs of a service user
Personal safety and security, financial security, mental health, heath care access and
challenges are some prominent needs among the older adult service user groups
(www.citizensadvice.org.uk, 2020). Ageism makes the situation adverse for them in the
workplaces. According to a report, 50% of the elderly people faces challenges in workplace
as their age is above 50 and 3.6% of homes has the features which will help a person with
mobility challenges(www.ageuk.org.uk, 2020). People of 70-75 years face difficulties in
health services such as chemotherapy, surgery and talking therapy. Financial arrangement of
care , provision of care, appointing a care giver and housing options are also some aspects
in which the developments are needed(Glover and Branine, 2017. ).
Evaluation of the policy
The policy states that the discrimination on the basis of age is illegal and older adults
should have equal opportunities to access any social and legal benefit. However, UK has
come out of European Union , the validity of the Equality Act, has been conserved.

3Equity Act 2010
Government must hold the public sector Equality Duty controlled within the Equality Act
2010 and encourage public bodies to practise the duty to encounter the challenges and
opportunities of ageing society.
Potential link between changes to society and changes to the service user group
There are policies like Independent Living Strategy, the National Carers Strategy and
the National Dementia Strategy which will help the elderly patient in better healthcare
opportunity, Age UK, Everything is online these days (2018) is an initiative which involves
the aged people to local digital inclusion process. The Equality and Human Rights
Commission has some implementation controls in certain situations under Equality Act.
Equality and Diversity and People with High Support Needs and Care and Support for Older
People in Bradford are some acts which can help the elderly people to preserve their rights
in health sectors.
Discrimination faced by the service user group
The service group can face discrimination in different ways such as direct
discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimisation. Direct discrimination
occurs when the employers does not allow a certain age group to serve for his or her
company. If policy and regulation of companies restrict the aged people to be involved in the
hiring process or as the employees of the company that will indirect discrimination
(Sargeant, 2016). Humiliation, offensive acts and disregards to the elderly employees will
come under the harassment. If someone protests against the age discrimination and that
person is treated badly, the person will be victimised.
Conclusion

4Equity Act 2010
The assignment has focused on effectiveness of Equity act among the elderly people
and how it removes discrimination from the society.

5Equity Act 2010
References
Glover, I. and Branine, M. eds., 2017. Ageism in work and employment. Routledge.
Sargeant, M. (2016). Age discrimination in employment. CRC Press.
www.ageuk.org.uk, 2020. Ageism. [online] Ageuk.org.uk. Available at:
<https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/policy-positions/cross-cutting-
issues/ageism-and-age-equality-pp-great-britain-august-2018.pdf> [Accessed 21 March
2020].
www.citizensadvice.org.uk, 2020. Equality Act 2010: What Do I Need To Know? A Summary
Guide To Your Right. [online] Citizensadvice.org.uk. Available at:
<https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Documents/Advice%20booklets/equlity-act-2010-
overview.pdf> [Accessed 21 March 2020].
www.legislation.gov.uk, 2020. Equality Act 2010. [online] Legislation.gov.uk. Available at:
<https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/part/2/chapter/1> [Accessed 21 March
2020].