Hugh O’ConnorAge Friendly Ireland

28th March 2014

Population structure is changing: more older people; fewer younger people. (Eurostat 2011)

More people living longer, living better

65+ population will increase

250%By 2036 (CSO 2007)

1in4Newborns will live to 100

7Newborns will live to over 60

8OUT OF

80+ population will increase

400%By 2041 (CSO 2007)

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What we Know

Some older people have poor quality of life and are afraid and vulnerable

Most rely on the state pension for most of their income

Some 10,000 over- 65s have experienced mistreatment

78% of all hospital admissions are older people

63% perceive crime as a serious problem

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Ageing is an Opportunity

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Net financial contributors to family: 24% gave large financial gifts to their children

65+ have 6.6bn income – but attract <10% of marketing spend

50+ account for more than half of all household spending in the EU

1 in 5 of 65-74 year olds do voluntary work once a week or more

Participate more in elections: 86% of 65+ voted in general election

37% participate in sport and physical activity regularly

Challenge our understanding of ageing

or

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A Place...• where I can engage and participate fully in everything

that is going on in the community• where I can easily get to where I want to go, when I want

to go• where I can access good quality healthcare and other

services without difficulty• where I can have a say in what happens in my county or

city if I wish to• where I feel safe and secure• where I can live a healthy and active life• where young and old interact and get along

Ask yourself the question: What sort of place would I like to grow old in?

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• Led by World Health Organisation• Framework for developing age

friendly communities• Hundreds of cities and communities

in a WHO global network• Ireland’s national programme

started in 2009 in Louth• Dublin Declaration signed 2011 /

2013

A global effort to make a real difference

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How we get there:common structure; local strategy

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CountyAlliance

Statutory Agencies

Key local bodies

Leaders & Influencers

Older People’s Council

Service Providers Forum

Business Forum

Participation

Strategy

Age FriendlyExecutive Support

Group

Collaboration

Age FriendlyCity/County

Informed

Local Particip-

ation

Respected &

Included

Healthy & Active

Mobile

Safe Spaces

Living at Home

Innovation

The World Health Organisation Themes 1. Outdoor Spaces & Buildings2. Transportation3. Housing4. Social Participation5. Respect & Social Inclusion6. Civic Participation & Employment7. Communication & Information8. Community Support & Health Services

What does Age Friendly Mean?

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•Programme now adopted and operational across 16 Local Authority areas

•Its success has owed much to the leadership, buy in and commitment demonstrated by front runner locations such as Louth, Fingal and Kilkenny

•Commitment now in place for the programme to be adopted across a further 9 Local Authority areas across 2014

•Ambition is for all Local Authorities to have adopted the Programme by end 2015

Galway City & County

Clare

Kilkenny

Fingal

Kildare

Meath

Louth

Monaghan

Cavan

Dublin

WaterfordCity

South Dublin

Leitrim

Westmeath

Carlow

Mayo

Limerick City & County

Sligo

Cork City

Offaly

Donegal

Longford

Waterford County

The Story so far inIreland

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National initiative and recognition scheme to help businesses meet older customers’ needsEnhances the experience for older peopleDelivers considerable business benefits – and profit

Age Friendly Business

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• Assisting 600 people to attend regular health appointments

• Funded initially as a pilot

• Evaluation demonstrated significant cost savings

• Pre pilot consultancy appointments missed due to lack of transport

• Programme has resulted in full attendance at appointments

• Reduction in patient transport costs to HSE

Fingal Health Pilot Route

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• Aimed at ‘enabling more older people stay living in their own

homes and communities’• Avoid unnecessary hospitalisations and admissions to nursing

homes

• Collaboration of HSE, Local Authority, Service Providers, NGOs,

Community Groups – at national and local level

• Developing personal care plans using the Self Assessment Tool

• Coordinating wide range of supports to meet individual needs

• Dedicated support co-ordinators with clinical background

OPRAOlder People Remaining At Home

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A mix of ages: 12-18 and 40–71Non Contact Boxing, Education on Healthy Eating, biology, chronic diseases, discipline & application

Preventative - Intergenerational HEALTH Project

“The youth are so full of enthusiasm, most get tarred with the same negative stereotyping because of the media. The Barry Mc Guigan Boxing Academy is a great, fresh and novel approach towards positive

living and lifestyle ” – Older Participant

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• A physical space to go to• Men of all ages and

backgrounds welcome• Activities from bike

repairs to wood-turning to upholstery or whatever the men want to engage in

Positive Mental Health- Men’s Shed

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Older people can drop in to the ‘Parlour’ at any time for a chat or to get advice and information on services or leisure and exercise opportunities

Parlours Initiative, Louth

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“I strongly endorse the establishment of a Global Network of Age Friendly Cities . . . to improve the quality of life for all of us as we age. I encourage all of you to consider getting your city or community to join the Network if they’re not already a member.”

“For my part, I will be looking for opportunities to complement and add value to the activities of local authorities as they roll out these programmes.”

Get your city or community to join

Minister Phil Hogan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government18

Thank you!Hugh O’Connor

www.agefriendlyirealnd.ieAge FriendlyIreland