“Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?”

Alliance of Age Sector NGOs call for an Independent Commissioner for Ageing and Older People

Dublin, 14 February 2024 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. To reflect this, a ‘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). 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 and 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 21st 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 at: Taking Stock – Full Doc (alone.ie)