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Programme Overview
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Related Information
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Facts at a Glance
- The proportion of people in Ireland aged 60 years or older is projected to increase from 15% of the overall population in 2002 to 28% in 2050. 1
- The greatest increase will be in people over 80 – the “oldest old” – a group that is expected to increase in size by 66% by 2035. 2
- In a World Health Organisation healthy life expectancy survey, Ireland was ranked 22nd for males and 23rd for females out of a total of 23 countries surveyed, in terms of time spent in poor health. 3
The Situation in Brief
In the Republic of Ireland, services for older adults are often of poor quality with major gaps, and the current economic downturn is placing increased constraints on government services and supports. The Ageing Programme in the Republic of Ireland is focused on increasing public awareness of and addressing public policies related to dementia and mental illness among older adults, especially depression, as well as the problems of rural older adults who are often isolated. Atlantic seeks to increase the capacity of key organisations, including those made up of older adults, to advocate to protect government services for older adults. To accomplish this, the Programme aims to enrich the evidence base on the ageing population and expand and strengthen the ageing sector in the Republic of Ireland.
Ageing Programme Goals in the Republic of Ireland
- Improve economic and health security through advocacy and policy
- Strengthen the voice of older adults
- Build a more enduring capacity in the age sector.
Ageing Resources
- Age Action Ireland, www.ageaction.ie
- Age & Opportunity, www.olderinireland.ie
- Third Age Summerhill Active Retirement Group, www.thirdage-ireland.com/helpline.htm
- The Irish Senior Citizen's Parliament, www.seniors.ie
- The National Council on Ageing and Older People, www.ncaop.ie
More Facts At a Glance
- Only 3.5% of older adults take advantage of home help services, compared to 13% in the United Kingdom.
- Four out of five older adults are completely independent in daily living.4
- More than 85% of older people own their own homes.5
- Depression is the most common mental illness among older people.6
Continue to read about our Ageing programme in action in the United States »
Footnotes
1, Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2, Source: Fahey, 1995
3, Source: World Health Organisation, 2001
4, Source:
www.olderinireland.ie
5, Source:
www.olderinireland.ie
6, Source:
www.olderinireland.ie