Baroness Greengross, campaigner for older people, dies leaving behind 'enormous legacy'

Sally Greengross, who tirelessly challenged ageism and campaigned to improve attitudes and policies towards older people, has died, leaving behind an “enormous legacy”.

Only a few days before she died, Baroness Greengross wrote to the Prime Minister appealing for funding for Hourglass, a charity which gives advice and support to older people affected by abuse and neglect.

In her letter, she said: "The last time we spoke was just after my late husband, Sir Alan Greengross, passed away. I still recall your kind words about the contribution he had made to the Greater London Authority and how he helped you when you were Mayor of London.

"Since then, my health has declined, and I am coming to the end of my life. I am writing to you in the hope that you will help this important charity so that the work that I started all those years ago can be continued.

"Prime Minister, I beg of you to do the right thing by older people in this country by ensuring that the Hourglass helpline receives the funding that it so desperately needs to do its important work." You can read the whole letter here.

Baroness Greengross recently stepped down as chief executive of the International Longevity Centre and had been an independent member of the House of Lords since 2000. She had co-chaired five All-Party Parliamentary Groups: Dementia, Corporate Social Responsibility, Bladder and Bowel Continence Care, and Ageing and Older People.

She was the vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Choice at the End of Life and Longevity and was treasurer of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Equalities. She was also chair of the cross-party Intergenerational Fairness Forum.

She hoped for a future 'where age was irrelevant'

She told carehome.co.uk she hoped for a future “when people don’t notice age and people are just people and age is irrelevant” and said her best present ever had been her four children.

Earlier this year, she called for GPs to prescribe music to people with dementia, saying it has a "unique ability to transform people's lives".

Professor Martin Green, chair of Trustees at the International Longevity Centre UK and chief executive of Care England, paid tribute to her, saying: “The death of Baroness Greengross has left everyone at the ILC deeply saddened and bereft at the loss of our inspirational leader, colleague and friend. We know that this news will also sadden everyone who was fortunate to have met her and we are thinking of Sally’s family and friends.

“I am honoured to have worked with Sally for over 35 years. She has been one of the most influential figures in redefining how societies across the globe respond to demographic change and ageing. Sally’s passionate commitment to human rights and equality inspired all she met and underlined everything she has achieved.”

Twenty-five years ago, while director-general of Age Concern, Baroness Greengross set up the International Longevity Centre-UK as part of the ILC Global Alliance. The ILC is the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society.

'We are committed to delivering her vision for a better world'

Professor Green added: “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.

“As we mourn Sally, we are filled with tremendous sadness. But she has left behind an enormous legacy, and we are committed to delivering her vision for a better world.”

Baroness Greengross was co-president of the ILC Global Alliance from 2010-17 and was their special ambassador. She also was a commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission from 2006-12.

From 1987 to 2000, Baroness Greengross was director general of Age Concern England and until 2000, she was joint chair of the Age Concern Institute of Gerontology at Kings College London, and secretary general of Eurolink Age. She was an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Society, SilverLine and HelpAge International - and patron of Hourglass (formerly Action on Elder Abuse) which she helped found in 1993.

Her death is a 'devastating loss for us'

Hourglass also paid tribute, saying: “It is with sincere sadness that we have to pass on the news that our founder and patron, Baroness Sally Greengross passed away this morning. It is a devastating loss for us and for older victims of abuse who she fought for every day.

“Thanks to her vision, our charity was launched as Action on Elder Abuse in 1993 and she has remained a staunch supporter and inspirational advocate throughout the past 30 years. There would simply not have been Hourglass without her innovation, understanding and knowledge.”

Baroness Greengross was president of the Pensions Policy Institute and the Association of Retirement Housing Managers; a vice president of the Local Government Association and honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries. She was a member of several advisory boards including Fujitsu’s Responsible Business Board.

In addition, she was patron of several organisations including the Association of Retirement Community Operators; Care & Repair England; the Ransackers Association; and Age UK Westminster. She held honorary doctorates from nine UK universities and her work on ageing has been recognised by the UN Committee on Ageing, receiving an outstanding achievement award from the British Society of Gerontology as well a British Geriatric Society Medal.

Baroness Greengross was UK Woman of Europe in 1990 and had been an ambassador for the Prince of Wales supporting responsible business practice.