Uncategorized

• The Walking Football Steering Group is chaired by Age & Opportunity and comprises representatives from Sport Ireland, the FAI, Healthy Ireland and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association
• Aims to grow participation in Walking Football nationwide for older adults

Walking Football is growing increasingly popular in Ireland in line with international trends. For older adults across the country, participation in Walking Football has boosted fitness levels and provided a great opportunity for social engagement.

A Steering Group has been established to examine arrangements for the development of Walking Football in Ireland. The Walking Football Steering Group will make strategic decisions about how walking football can best be played, administered and supported.

A key priority of the Steering Group is to grow participation in Walking Football with a view to enhancing the physical, mental and social wellbeing of participants.

Speaking about Walking Football, Age & Opportunity Active Programme Manager, Sue Guildea said: “It has been wonderful to see the growth in Walking Football in recent years. People who thought their football playing days were over, now have a chance to be part of a team again. The Walking Football Steering Group gives us a great opportunity to support the sustainable development of Walking Football in Ireland.”

The Steering Group is chaired by Age & Opportunity and comprises representatives from Sport Ireland, the FAI, Healthy Ireland and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association. Over the coming months, the Steering Group will undertake consultations with a wide range of stakeholders involved in Walking Football in Ireland including participants, football clubs, and agencies. Arrangements for the governance of Walking Football in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be examined.

Speaking about Walking Football, FAI Programme Coordinator, Simon Walsh said: “Football is for everyone, and taking part in Walking Football activities can have a positive impact on a participant’s physical and mental health, as well as their overall wellbeing. Walking Football can also provide those taking part with a sense of accomplishment, and being part of a group or club can foster a sense of belonging, which is crucial for those who may feel isolated as they get older. This Walking Football Steering Group aims to develop opportunities for participation and the growth of the game into the future.”

The desired outcomes from the Walking Football Steering Group include a centralised point of contact for information on Walking Football, standardised policies and procedures (including Health and Safety Guidelines, rules etc) and grassroots development (including coaching, referee training, blitzes and tournaments etc).

With these desired outcomes in mind, The Steering Group would like to hear from all those involved or wishing to get involved in the sport to better their understanding of the issues that might affect the development of the game in Ireland.

If you would like to share any feedback or comments, please click https://bit.ly/WalkingFootballIreland and you will be taken to an anonymous form.

We are delighted to announce that tickets for The Bealtaine Gathering 2024 are now on sale. The annual get together of Bealtaine event organisers will take place on Tuesday 22nd October (10am to 4:30pm) in Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar, Dublin. 

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our keynote speaker will be award-winning writer and founder of Narrative 4, Colum McCann, speaking on radical empathy and the potential for social change. 

In recognition of ongoing political and social upheavals, this year’s Bealtaine Gathering will focus on the critical theme of Solidarity. We invite the Bealtaine community of organisers, artists, partners, local authorities and supporters, to join us in looking at Solidarity as a driving force and foundation for our work.  

We also hope to provide inspiration for events and information on planning for Bealtaine Festival’s upcoming 30th anniversary. 

Dr. Tara Byrne, Arts Programme Manager and Bealtaine Artistic Director, Age & Opportunity, said: “we are living in such turbulent times which are inevitably reflected in our work. As such, for this Gathering we really wanted to represent that and hope that the Bealtaine community will come away from the day with new ways to consider their work, as well as more insight into the transformative potential of such a deeply rooted community festival.” 

We will also be showcasing projects which we think will inspire you and which explore ideas relating to Solidarity. Socially engaged artist and activist Grace Dyas will be discussing her film project The No Show, produced in collaboration with Limerick City Build, about a group of men’s experiences of abandonment, absence, loss and social exclusion. 

Poet, translator and editor Keith Payne will present on the project Tales My Granny Told Me which collected stories from around the world brought to Ireland by International Protection Applicants. Keith will be joined by a participant from the project. 

In the afternoon, we will be joined by two panels, one featuring the Bealtaine co-ordinators from three different county library services to look at the specific opportunities for Bealtaine events in local libraries. The second panel discussion ‘Solidarity is a Verb’, will feature artists Donal O’Kelly, Grace Dyas and Emma O’Grady joining Mary Moynihan from Smashing Times as Chair to discuss how art can play a role in building solidarity in communities and between generations. 

The day will also feature a very special performance by poet Stephen James Smith in response to the theme of Solidarity. 

Whether you regularly organise Bealtaine events or haven’t had the opportunity for a number of years, we very much welcome you to join us for the Bealtaine Gathering 2024. We especially welcome smaller groups, individuals, artists, care setting representatives, as well as representatives of local authorities and arts organisations. 

Get your tickets

Tickets for the day are €15/10* with lunch provided. For full details and to book see Bealtaine.ie or Eventbrite.

*if cost is a factor in accessing this event, please get in touch with us: arts@ageandopportunity.ie or 01 9133921. 

Alliance of Age Sector NGOs[1] meets with general election candidates and calls for the set-up of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People

Age Alliance Pre Election Briefing Event 18^th Sept 2024

At present, policy for older people in Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Health.

Older people, however, are not a homogenous group and have needs and rights far beyond this Department.

There are many factors which impact on our ability to age well and, in the experience of the Age Alliance, significant numbers of older people experience challenges relating to income, housing, health, transport, work, energy, education, and digital communications.

The Age Alliance is therefore calling for the speedy establishment of a new public office – an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People (similar to that which is in place in both Northern Ireland and Wales) – that would account directly to the Oireachtas, with a mandate that recognises the full capacity and potential of older people, covering their needs and rights across the spectrum, not just in terms of health, care, and vulnerability.

Such an office would be a key ‘asset’ for Government, helping its departments and agencies to integrate ageing issues into all relevant policy fields and to effect strong implementation and good value for money.

Just a small number of the key issues spotlighted at this briefing event included the following;

• We have a growing older adult population base – which is increasing year on year. People aged 60 or older currently represent one in four adults in Ireland. By the end of the next five-year Government term (2030) the population aged over 65 will have grown to over 1 million. We need a well-planned whole of Government response.
• The older adult population is not a homogenous group. While most of us are living longer, healthier lives and can look forward to years of active older age there remain profound inequalities for too many.
• Ageist stereotypes persist in society. A number of Age Alliance publications[2] [3] [4] have exposed the ingrained nature and impact of ageism in Ireland. There are numerous and harmful effects associated with ageism including shorter lifespan (estimated by the WHO at as much as 7.5 years), diminished mental and physical health, isolation, lost commitment to the workplace, cognitive decline, reduced quality of life. Ageism can also contribute to poverty and financial insecurity in older age. 34% of people aged 50+ reported experiencing discrimination in 2011. This had increased to 45% in 2016. Today, post pandemic, we can safely assume the figure has increased again.
• Older people and financial security: Multiple Government policies have committed to implement benchmarking of the pension by 2021. Meanwhile there has been an increase in poverty rates among older people. CSO data (SILC 2022) indicates that those aged 65+ were the only cohort to see increases across all three poverty rates between 2020 and 2021 – at risk of poverty (9.8% to 11.9%); deprivation (8.1% to 8.4%); and consistent poverty (1.0% to 2.5%). The situation is worse where an older person aged 65 or older is living alone. For this cohort, the at risk of poverty rate increased from 20.5% to 21.5%, deprivation increased from 10.6% to 12.1%, and consistent poverty increased from 2.2% to 4.3%. Only two thirds of State Pension recipients receive the maximum rate of payment while people aged 65+ living alone had the lowest household income in 2022, at €16,840. Ireland is now the only country in the eurozone without a system of benchmarking the state pension.
• Older people and housing: The number of private renters aged 65+ has increased by 83% since the Census in 2016 and has more than doubled since 2011. Although more and more people are retiring now without owning a home, the evidence shows that paying rent on a pension alone is simply not possible. Census figures also show significant increases since 2016 in over 65s who are still paying off a loan or mortgage on their home (19.8%). Close to half of older persons (48%) do not have adequate housing as defined by the UN standard.
• Older people and mental health: Pre-pandemic, 10% of over 50s surveyed by TILDA (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing) reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. By 2021, this figure had more than doubled.
• Older people and loneliness: Multiple Government policies have pledged to develop a national level plan to tackle loneliness and isolation. An EU-wide survey (European Commission, 2022) on loneliness found over 20% of respondents in Ireland reported feeling lonely most or all of the time, compared to the European average of 13%, and the lowest levels found in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Croatia and Austria (all below 10%). Yet no plan to tackle loneliness and isolation has been developed or launched.
• Older people and physical activity: Only 33% of adults aged over 65 and 18% of adults aged over 75 are meeting the National Physical Activity Guidelines.
• Care in the home: Government has pledged to introduce a statutory scheme to support people to age well in their own homes. Work on the development of such a scheme is ongoing but no scheme would appear to be close to being put in place.
• Older people and the Internet: Approximately two thirds of older persons do not use the internet or lack the basic skills to do so confidently.
• As recently as 2022 the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013) was described as being an ‘’integral part of the Governments agenda to improve the lives of older people in Ireland’’. Strikingly, no implementation plan for the 2013 Strategy was ever developed. No monitoring or reporting plan was ever introduced. No ring-fenced budget was ever applied.

What the Age Alliance believes is missing is an independent champion with statutory powers and a cross-Departmental brief who takes responsibility for focused progress on tackling ageism and making the 2013 Positive Ageing Strategy vision a reality.

Independent Commissioners, with strong track records of achievements, are in place in both Northern Ireland (estb. 2011 with a £1.5m budget in 2022) and Wales (estb. 2008 with a £1.1m budget in 2022).

The Age Alliance is asking all election candidates to support the call for the establishment of this new public office and include this as a commitment within any general election manifesto and future Programme for Government.

This single investment will help to ensure that all the key players streamline their work, with the expressed interests and needs of older people at their core. It has the potential to make a real difference for older people.

Quotes:

The Age Alliance said: ‘’We are calling on all political parties and general election candidates to support the establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People and include this as a commitment within any general election manifesto and future Programme for Government. Such an office holder would act as a ‘champion’ with a cross-Departmental brief to prioritise older people’s issues’’.

The Age Alliance said: ‘‘An Independent Commissioner would be a key ‘asset’ for Government, helping its departments and agencies to integrate ageing issues into all relevant policy fields and to effect strong implementation and good value for money. Relatively speaking the set-up of an Independent Commissioner would not represent a significant budget ask. Independent Commissioners, with strong track records of achievements directly for older people, are in place in both Northern Ireland and Wales. Ireland’s growing older population constitute an engine for recovery, not a drain. Ireland needs a well-planned whole of Government response in this key area’’.

The Age Alliance said: ‘’An ageing Ireland is an issue in which people of all ages will have a stake. We all want to age well. Collectively, we need to hold Government to account on the pledges that have been made in respect of positive ageing as these are the issues that can make a real difference to the lived experience of our older adult population. An Independent Commissioner would have responsibility for ensuring the effective mainstreaming of ageing across Government, and an ability to hold Government and public bodies to account’’.

Community Foundation Ireland CEO Denise Charlton, which is supporting the work of the Alliance, said: “Our older adult population will be the fastest growing demographic of the 21^st Century. We are proud philanthropic partners of the Age Alliance and fully endorse the call for the urgent establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People. Both successful and ‘promising’ age friendly practice are already visible, but these now need to be scaled up so that they are more readily accessible no matter where one lives. An Independent Commissioner would play a critical role in supporting departments and agencies to integrate ageing issues into all relevant policy fields’’.

[1] The seven member organisations are: Active Retirement Ireland, Age & Opportunity, ALONE, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Irish Hospice Foundation, The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Third Age.

[2] Telling it Like It Is; What older people told us about their experience of Covid-19, and what Ireland should do about it. (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs, 2021).

[3] Telling It Like It Is; Combatting ageism. (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs, 2023)

[4] Taking Stock; Is Government keeping its commitments to older people? (Alliance of Age Sector NGOs, 2024)

At Age & Opportunity our vision is an Ireland where all older people can be more active, more visible, more creative, more connected, more confident, more often. 

Our Programmes, Arts, Active and Engage, all seek to facilitate this with older persons who partner with us and participate in them. While we offer a range of initiatives throughout the year, there are so many things each of us can do to make this vision a reality in our daily lives.  

Here are some tips we hope you find useful: 

• Start early  
• Moisturise 
• Age creatively/be creative 
• Keep moving 
• Stay connected 
• Think positive 
• Have a sense of purpose 
• Eat/drink/sleep 

Start Early – start now 

It’s quite common for people to regard ageing as something that happens in the later stages of life. However, we are ageing from the day we’re born and the healthier habits we adopt earlier in life the greater the benefits in later life. Having said that, it’s never too late to get more active, to eat better, stop smoking and reduce alcohol, and get involved in creativity and our communities. So, get started by looking at what support is available in your community, (talk to friends, family, neighbours) or see what you can connect with online. 

Moisturise – practice self-care 

While looking after our skin is important, it’s also important to moisturise our soul/spirit, our inner self. Think about the way you talk to yourself during the day; are you nagging at yourself or being mostly kind? It’s important that we are compassionate to ourselves, whatever the situation. If we tend to be self-critical a lot of the time, we can change this with practice. Some of us use regular meditation or keeping a diary/journal or a prayer practice. Many of us may have grown up with the message that self-care was selfish, but being kind to ourselves is really important and we can develop new practices in self-care at any age. 

Check out our Resilience videos here.

Age Creatively – be creative 

We are living longer and we should celebrate this fact: the writer Anne Karpf says that ageing is a lifelong process and an opportunity to develop, that’s why we talk about growing old! So instead of regarding later life as a period of loss or decline we continue to develop as individuals, so let’s celebrate our individuality in older age. We have more and more opportunities to express ourselves rather than being constrained into reduced roles as older persons.  

How many of us say ‘I can’t even draw a straight line’ or ‘I can’t sing to save my life’? Lots of us got negative messages about creativity when we were growing up, from being told to stand at the back of the choir in school to being told that art and creativity wasn’t for us. Being involved in creativity is life-enhancing, it can change our perspective on life and bring joy and fun into our lives. One of the many joys of later life is that we can give it a go, whether it’s joining a choir, or taking an art or dance class in the local hall and remember the process of doing/making is just as important as the end product. Libraries are a great source of information of local events. Our annual Bealtaine Festival takes place all over the country for the month of May. Your county Arts Office organises arts and creativity events through the whole year. 

Check out our introduction to drawing or our getting creative videos.

Keep Moving 

There are all sorts of movement and exercise that we can incorporate into daily routines, from cycling, walking football, swimming etc. Going for a walk is one of the best and cheapest forms of exercise, and if we do it with a friend, we’re also boosting our sense of connectedness. There are also many chair-based exercises that we can do at home or with groups. Dancing is a wonderful combination of physical exercise, connectedness and creativity and can be really uplifting. And while movement is important so too is balance: try standing on one leg while brushing your teeth. 

When we talk about moving, we’re not only talking about physical movement but also emotional/psychological movement. Keeping an open mind, being receptive to new ideas, different opinions and points of view all help us to keep moving throughout our lives. 

Check out FitLine here.

Stay Connected 

One of the greatest impacts of Covid-19 was the sense of isolation and loneliness that many people felt. It was a poignant reminder of how important it is to be connected. Being in touch with others helps our sense of belonging and community, which boosts our physical and mental well-being.  

Going for walk, having a cuppa, hanging out with a friend can increase our sense of self-worth and reduce feelings of loneliness. Older persons are often the backbone of many communities, through being connected via volunteering and other networks.  

Retirement can be challenging, particularly if we’re not connected locally, so don’t leave it till the last minute. Intergenerational connectedness is also really good for us, for both younger and older. 

Read our report – Telling It Like It Is. 

Think Positive 

In the same way that we can change our inner voice from being critical to being loving, we can also change the way we view the world and our expectations. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) shows that if we have positive expectations of later life we live longer and have more positive experiences in older age. So if you are a glass half empty person, you can change to being a glass half full person and reap the benefits. 

Check out our Changing Gears initiative.

Have a Sense of Purpose 

Our sense of purpose may change over time for example moving from employment to retirement or parenthood to empty nester are two major changes in later life that may radically change our sense of purpose, so we will benefit from replacing them with other senses of purpose in our lives. 

Taking on other responsibilities can be rewarding and can help with a new sense of purpose but there is a caveat here: choosing and being in control of the new demands on our time is important. Being retired doesn’t mean that we are suddenly a 24/7 minding service for grandchildren, no matter how much we love them. 

Finding our sense of purpose, particularly after a major life change like retirement is one of the topics explored in Changing Gears. 

Check out our Changing Gears initiative.

Eat/Drink/Sleep 

When it comes to sleep there is no size that fits all; some of us need eight hours a night, others need less as we get older. Most advice, however, emphasises the importance of routine in terms of going to bed and getting up, and making sure that bedrooms are cool, well-ventilated and free of electronic devices. 

Our diet often changes as we age and many older persons prefer to eat smaller and more frequent meals; sometimes referred to as ‘grazing’. It is widely recommended that we should eat more protein in later life. High quality, protein-rich foods include meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and eggs, beans, peas, lentils and nuts. 

It’s also important to drink enough liquids, bearing in mind that tea and coffee contribute to our daily intake. The Irish Heart Foundation recommends 1.6 litres of water for women and 2 litres for men. 

Take it hot – Tea and coffee do count towards your daily fluid intake. While it’s true that caffeine has a diuretic effect (triggers the body to produce more urine, increasing fluid loss), overall there is always a net fluid gain due to the water contained in the hot drinks. However, these drinks need to be balanced with other fluids that don’t contain caffeine throughout the day. Why not try decaffeinated tea or coffee or herbal tea to increase your fluid intake? 

Age & Opportunity is the national organisation that provides a range of opportunities for older people who want to get more involved in arts and culture, sport and physical activity, civic engagement and personal development. Our mission is to enable the best quality of life for us all as we age. Our vision is of an Ireland where all older people can be more active, more visible, more creative, more connected, more confident, more often.

We have an opportunity for an experienced HR Executive with overall responsibility for leading strategic direction and managing the operation of our HR function. Working closely with our CEO and the Senior Management Team, the HR Executive will lead on all areas of our HR function.

Position: Part-time, 25 hours per week over 5 working days (standard working hours are 37.5 hours and flexitime applies).
Contract: Two-year Fixed Term Contract
Salary: €50,000 to €55,000 pro rata, depending on experience
Reporting to: CEO
Location: This role is based at our offices in Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9, with flexible hybrid working arrangements.

A full job description and person specification is available here:  HR Executive

To apply:
Please send your CV and cover letter outlining how you match the above criteria by email to Karen Horgan CEO, at jobs@ageandopportunity.ie

All applicants from countries outside the EU are required to provide relevant work authorisation to take up employment in Republic of Ireland.
This must be submitted as part of the application process with your CV and cover letter.

Shortlisting will apply based on the criteria outlined above.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Tuesday the 21st of May 2024 at 12 noon. Interviews will be held in Dublin on the week ending the 31st of May 2024.

Age & Opportunity announces grants of over €300,000 to promote physical activity among older people

• Funds support diverse activities nationwide – from chair yoga to Tai Chi, table tennis to walking hockey
• Over €7.4 million awarded to date by the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme
• 1,167 grants allocated this year

Age & Opportunity is today marking the distribution of its Active National Grant that provides significant funding for sport and physical activity amongst older people.

The Grant Scheme is a combined initiative from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland with funding provided by the Government of Ireland. This year it is providing over €300,000 to support sport and physical activities run by 1,167 groups and organisations. These range from Active Retirement Groups, ICAs, Men’s/Women’s Sheds, Physical Activity Leaders (PALs), care settings and other sports and social groups.

Read the full list of successful grant applicants here.

Minister of State for Sport, Physical Education and the Gaeltacht, Thomas Byrne TD, said: “Today’s funding announcement is very welcome news as the Government endeavours to provide people of all ages with the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity. The Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme has a positive impact on communities across Ireland and helps to provide opportunities for older people to get involved in sport and physical activity. I want to thank Age & Opportunity for their excellent work and I wish them continued success in their valuable work for communities all across Ireland.”

By financially supporting organisations to buy equipment and host activities specifically designed for older people, the grant helps older people reap the health benefits of being active. One Nursing Home in Cork is sourcing equipment to continue hosting their annual Olympic Theme Event which they hosted for first time last year with help of the grant. This year they are looking to add golf onto the list of activities.

Speaking about the grant, Sport Ireland CEO, Dr Úna May commented: Today’s grant funding is helping to create an Ireland where more older people can be more active and more connected. The long-running Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme has proven an excellent resource and I also want to acknowledge our own national network of Local Sports Partnerships who do wonderful work in communities across the country.”

Karen Horgan, CEO of Age & Opportunity, welcomed the ongoing partnership with Sport Ireland.

“Today’s grant funding is helping us create an Ireland where more older people are more active and more connected. We are delighted to note the number of successful applications from sports clubs who are seeing an increase in the numbers of older people joining their activities. Indeed many of them are specifically organising courses to cater for older persons.”

“We are also delighted that this year 414 successful applications were from designated disadvantaged areas. In addition, there were 105 successful applications from care settings. The renewed focus on providing meaningful activities in these settings is particularly welcome given the impact that Covid-19 has had on older people in these settings.”

Of today’s funding allocations, grants were awarded to 20 Local Sports Partnerships, 199 Irish Countrywomen’s Association Guilds, 269 Active Retirement Groups, 57 Men’s sheds and 19 Women’s sheds.

Every year approximately 32,000 older people take part in physical activity funded by the Grant Scheme. Activities funded include aqua aerobics, rowing, dancing, cycling, clay pigeon shooting, bowling, self-defence, walking tennis, tai chi, walking and weight-lifting.

For a snapshot of the Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme’s impact on people’s health and well-being watch our video here.

The Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity’s Active programme, funded by Sport Ireland, and delivered nationwide with the support of the HSE and Local Sports Partnerships.

The Alliance of Age Sector NGOs, representing seven leading older persons organisations, is calling on all political parties to include a commitment in their manifestos, ahead of the next general election, to establish an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People and to relaunch the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013) with a strong implementation and monitoring plan and a ring-fenced budget.

According to ‘Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?’, a hard-hitting review launched today by the Alliance, there has been a significant failure to deliver many of Ireland’s policy commitments for ageing and older people.

The review sets out the extensive range of policy commitments relevant to our ageing population as described in key Government publications and provides a summary of the progress made in the various areas.

Furthermore the review:

• Provides a ‘deep dive’ analysis of 17 thematic areas relevant to the lives of older people and an ageing population.
• Highlights 15 commitments made in respect of older people and rates the Government on its efforts in each of these areas.
• Illustrates how many of the commitments set out as part of the relevant policy frameworks have yet to be meaningfully advanced.
• Identifies the practical and evidence-based steps that can be taken to support more effective policy implementation relevant to our over-65 population which has grown by 35% over the past decade –  more than three times the rate of growth in the overall population and faster than elsewhere in Europe (Health in Ireland, Key Trends 2022, Department of Health/CSO.)

Some key points on Government’s performance in this area to date:

• Government has made good or ‘promising’ progress in some areas. ‘B’ grade was awarded on the combat of ageism to reflect the very recent development and launch of the national campaign in this space by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), an independent public body that accounts directly to the Oireachtas. A ‘B’ grade was also awarded to reflect the introduction of the ‘Long-Term Carer Contributions’ scheme which will make it easier for long-term family carers to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) when they reach pension age.
• One ‘F’ and four ‘E’ grades were awarded for, among other issues, the failure to publish waiting lists for housing adaptations; failure to develop an implementation plan so as to translate the National Positive Ageing Strategy into action on the ground; failure to benchmark State pension payments; and failure to develop a plan aimed at tackling loneliness and isolation among older people.
• Several ‘C-’ and ‘D’ grades were also awarded across the 15 shortlisted areas. Together, this shows a lack of significant progress and strong implementation across a range of long-standing policy commitments relevant to positive ageing.

In October 2023, Government approved a proposal to establish a ‘Commission on Care for Older Persons’. The Commission is to examine the provision of health and social care services and supports for older persons, and make recommendations. The Alliance welcomes this long-awaited move and looks forward to contributing to the work of the planned Commission on Care.

The Alliance understands that a cross-departmental group will be established under the auspices of the Commission on Care to consider whether the supports for positive ageing are fit-for-purpose, and to develop a costed implementation plan for any proposed new supports. This Commission will therefore provide a valuable opportunity for Government to not only consider the value of but actively make plans for the establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People. In a recent Red C poll commissioned by Sage Advocacy, 81% of respondents wanted to see the introduction of a Commissioner for Older People.

Independent Commissioners, with strong track records of achievements directly for older people, are already in place in both Northern Ireland and Wales. Proposals for similar commissioners in England and Scotland are also well advanced.

At present, policy for older people in Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Health. Older people have needs and rights far beyond this Department. An Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People would have a much broader remit that recognises the full capacity and potential of older people, covering their needs and rights across the spectrum, not just in terms of health, care, frailty, and vulnerability.

An Independent Commissioner would support the effective mainstreaming of ageing across Government while also holding Government and public bodies to account. The Alliance is therefore calling on all political parties to include a commitment in their manifestos, ahead of the next general election, to establish an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People and to relaunch the National Positive Ageing Strategy together with a strong implementation and monitoring plan and a ring-fenced budget.

An ageing Ireland is something that affects people of all ages. We all want to age well. As a country we must, therefore, strive to become an Ireland that leads the world in becoming age-attuned, age-accommodating and age-friendly.

Seán Moynihan, ALONE CEO on behalf of the Alliance said: ‘’There has been no shortage of policy statements relevant to ageing and older people, from as far back as 1968 through to the more recent, albeit now eleven-year-old, National Positive Ageing Strategy. Many of the commitments set out in these policy frameworks have yet to be meaningfully advanced or benefited from coordinated implementation. Much of the policy content though remains valid. We are calling on this current Government, and indeed all political parties heading into a new election cycle, to implement outstanding commitments and to support the establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing an Older People – an office holder who would act as a ‘champion’ with a cross-Departmental brief to prioritise older people’s issues’’.

Áine Brady, Alliance member and Third Age CEO, said: ‘’The Age Alliance has developed this snapshot report in order to directly track and spotlight the progress made by Ireland in respect of its key pledges and policy commitments relevant to older people in Ireland. Collectively, we need to hold Government to account on the pledges that have been made in respect of positive ageing as these are the issues that can make a real difference to the lived experience of our older adult population. We see this spotlighting exercise as a call to action to Government to work on a cross-Departmental basis to improve the delivery of programmes, services and supports for older people’’.

Maureen Kavanagh, Alliance member and Active Retirement Ireland CEO, said: ‘’Our ageing population needs strong institutions, appropriate policy and effective implementation so that the human rights and ability of older people to reach their full potential are no longer denied. Our older adult population will be the fastest growing demographic of the 21^st Century and must be centrally and explicitly catered for as part of any ambitions and priorities of Government now and in the future. An Independent Commissioner would be a key ‘asset’ for Government, helping its departments and agencies to integrate ageing issues into all relevant policy fields and to effect strong implementation and good value for money.”

Community Foundation Ireland CEO Denise Charlton, which is supporting the work of the Alliance, said: “Often, we talk about the needs of Ireland’s ageing population as if this represents a change in demographics to be considered in the future. The truth is our population has already grown considerably older in recent years. It is to be celebrated that people are living longer but we need to ensure that more of these years are spent in better health. As a Foundation which believes in Empowering Generations, we are proud philanthropic partners of the Alliance and fully endorse the call for the urgent establishment of an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People.”

The Alliance of Age Sector is made up of seven leading older persons organisations who are working collaboratively to combat ageism and to seek action on the specific issues that make older people’s lives unnecessarily difficult.

The report ‘Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?’ is available to download here.

When can I apply for the grant?

The Age & Opportunity Active National Grant Scheme is now closed. It will open again in 2025 and we will provide more information on how to apply for the grant then.

We would like to thank everyone who has applied for the 2024 Age & Opportunity Active National Grant, and we aim to notify all applicants of the results towards the end of April 2024.

CarePALs workshops for Spring/Summer 2024.

We are delighted to share details of our upcoming CarePALs workshops.

The aim of our CarePALs initiative is to enable care staff to deliver physical activity sessions to those in their care, which can be included as part of their daily or weekly routines, without additional costs to the care setting.

Participants are not expected to have any background or formal experience in leading physical activities but they will need to have an interest in learning to lead physical activities. CarePALs involves a 2-day training course and is funded by the HSE,  so is free to participants.

If you are interested in attending any of the above workshops or would like further information, please contact Máire Murphy (PALs Coordinator) at maire.murphy@ageandopportunity.ie

More information about CarePALs here: CarePALs

We are delighted to offer Changing Gears in person this February in Wexford. Designed to boost wellbeing and resilience for those aged 50+ years, it is a five-session course which focuses on managing transitions in mid to later life.

Do you want to discover more about yourself and your capacity to meet different challenges? Take stock of your skills and experiences and plan your next steps in life?

What is Changing Gears?

Changing Gears supports people in dealing with transitions or significant life-challenges in mid to later life. It focuses on how we can build resilience, take stock, make changes, and bounce forward in life.

How does it work?

Changing Gears offers participants time to:
• Develop skills and techniques to build resilience and confidence in managing life-changes or transitions.
• Reframe transitions in their lives as opportunities with positive options, challenging negative stereotypes about ageing.

The course invites participants to reflect on challenges they have experienced in the past and life-lessons they have learned. In this way, strategies for building resilience and managing change draw on personal experience to lay the foundations for a more positive and fulfilling future.

How can I get involved?

This course is delivered in 2.5-hour sessions once a week over 5 weeks.

Venue:               Ashdown Park Hotel, The Coach Road, Gorey, Co. Wexford Y25 V1D6

Dates:                Thursdays 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 February 2024

Times:                11.15 am – 1:45 pm (which includes a comfort break with tea and coffee)

To book a place on this course, please e-mail Fiona at: engage@ageandopportunity.ie or call on +353 1 9133922

Please note that this course has been funded by the HSE and is free of charge. Participation requires attendance at each of the five sessions (please do not book a place if you cannot attend on these dates).