Organisation calls for 'age-friendly' society

The National Council on Ageing and Older People (NCAOP) today appealed for the creation of an ‘age friendly society’ in Ireland.

The call was made at the launch of two reports on age-related issues by the NCAOP - An Age Friendly Society: A Position Statement on the current and future status of older people in Irish society; and Planning for an Ageing Population: Strategic Considerations.

The director of the NCAOP, Bob Carroll, said the council was not looking for preferential treatment for older citizens, but was simply reiterating the UN’s call for a society for all ages.

"While recognising improvements in the circumstances of older people, the council is concerned at policy, planning, standard setting and services limitations affecting some older people at a time of dramatic improvements in the circumstances of the population generally," said Mr Carroll. "In asking itself why this may be so, it has concluded that we must look to society as a whole, to societal attitudes to ageing and older people."

Speaking at the launch, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs Séamus Brennan, claimed that planning for the increasing numbers of elderly citizens was already underway, with one of the main issues centring around who is responsible for providing care to older people in the State - the elderly, their families or the State.

A working group set up to look at the issue of long-term care is expected to report to the Tánaiste and the minister within a matter of weeks.

Mr Brennan said he was proposing a number of reforms to benefit the elderly, including a proposed all-island free travel scheme that spans the State and Northern Ireland. Discussions are also being held on the idea of allowing Irish senior citizens in Britain access to free travel when they visit Ireland.

The Minister promised that he was also looking into the distinction between the contributory and non-contributory pension. Those on a non-contributory pension have their pension reduced if they earn over a certain amount each week, while a contributory pension is not adversely affected by outside sources of income.

Ireland’s population is set to see an increase in the number of elderly people in the coming years. By 2021, the percentage of men aged 65 and over is expected to increase to between 13.9 per cent and 14.1 per cent, up from 9.7 per cent in 2002. The number of women in that age group is also due to rise, increasing from 12.5 per cent in 2002 to between 15.8 and 16.4 per cent. However, the old age dependency ratio will stay in line with that of other European countries.

The minister urged the country to recognise the valuable asset that older people represent, rather than viewing the elderly as a burden.

"When it comes to the ageing population, our challenge is to recognise that older people still have a valuable contribution to make, and that we need to provide the supports and services which will allow them to achieve this in whatever way they wish."

Mr Carroll said society was at a crossroads in terms of its relationship with older citizens. "Vision and leadership are required to ensure that that we take the right direction towards the creation of a society that enhances people’s quality of life as they grow older, one that optimises opportunities for health, participation and security for older people and that recognises and values the vital contribution that older people make to their families, their communities and to society as a whole," he concluded.