The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) will host a research seminar on Thursday 6 November which will discuss the importance of informal carers as valuable providers of health and social care in Northern Ireland. It will also address the pressures that informal carers face. The seminar will be held at the Institute of Governance, Queen’s University Belfast.

Research author, Professor Eileen Evason, Emeritus Professor of Social Administration at the University of Ulster, has found that almost one quarter of adults in Northern Ireland are carers. Professor Evason commented 'Informal care underpins our health and social care services and is a vital contribution to maintaining the health and well being of a significant proportion of the population in Northern Ireland. Taking on a caring role can significantly change people’s lives. Providing care can be intensive and demanding. It would appear that carers today are under more pressure than before and are more likely to need support in this role.’ 

Professor Evason will discuss further findings of her research during the seminar.

The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) will host a research seminar on Thursday 30 October which will discuss findings that 51 per cent of nursing home residents studied were prescribed psychoactive drugs inappropriately. The seminar will be held in the Institute of Governance, Queen’s University Belfast.

Dr. Susan Patterson from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast will detail the prevalence of inappropriate psychoactive drug prescribing for older people in Northern Ireland nursing homes. She will discuss the importance of pharmaceutical care in ensuring appropriate drug prescription in nursing homes.

Dr. Susan Patterson said ‘Historically, psychoactive medication has sometimes been used in nursing homes to sedate the residents, when there is no clinical need. Pharmacists are the experts in medicines and they have a significant role to play in terms of finding and championing innovations that reduce risks for patients. This research has demonstrated that pharmacist intervention can reduce medication risks for nursing home residents.’

On Thursday 16 October the Changing Ageing Partnership will host a seminar on the impact of an ageing population on rural communities entitled ‘Demographic Ageing: Burden or Asset for Rural Communities?’ presented by Dr Aileen Stockdale, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen’s University Belfast.

Nationally demographic ageing is frequently reported as a ‘pensions and care’ issue.  Inevitably this results in older people being viewed as a burden on society; as inactive and unproductive dependants.  This seminar will be used to highlight relevant literature which challenges this view and acknowledges the many positive contributions people aged over 50 make to society.  In addition the consequences of the migration of people aged 50 and over into rural areas for the local economy, community, civic organisations and the well being of older people of the migration of people aged 50 and over to rural areas will be debated.

Dr Stockdale said ‘Demographic ageing, while bringing many challenges for policy-makers can also represent a considerable asset to particular areas.  There can be both economic and societal benefits as a result of the migration of people aged 50 or over into rural areas.  These include job creation through the setting up of businesses and contributing to society through volunteering and voluntary service.’

The seminar will introduce a two year research project funded by the Economic & Social Research Council and commencing in December, which examines community and individual well being during an era of demographic ageing in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

As Northern Ireland’s third Age Awareness Week draws to a close, a very clear message is being sent to the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive that they must act swiftly to ensure discrimination on the grounds of age is eradicated from our society.

Anne O’Reilly, spokesperson for the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) and Age Awareness Week said ‘This year’s hugely successful Age Awareness Week has witnessed extensive discussions amongst older people around the issues of rights and discrimination on the basis of age, acknowledging the need to end such discrimination.  Our Junior Ministers have also acknowledged that it is unfair to discriminate against a person on the basis of his / her age.  This view is also supported by research[1] commissioned by the Changing Ageing Partnership to launch Age Awareness Week, which indicated that 87 per cent agreed that discriminatory attitudes towards older people can never be justified.

It is also clear from this research that policy makers and service providers need to prepare themselves for tomorrow’s generation of older people.  81 per cent of people aged between 55 and 64 agreed that older people are on the whole less valued than people in the general population because of their age; 93 per cent of people aged between 55 and 64 agreed that the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive need to do more to ensure the rights of older people are protected and promoted compared to 84 per cent overall.

There is much work happening within Northern Ireland’s Age Sector to ensure that today’s and tomorrow’s older people will have the skills and knowledge to have their voice heard and to become a powerful lobby within our society.   Age Awareness Week is all about acknowledging the important contribution that older people’s groups make to our society.  Decision makers need to ensure, that in our increasingly ageing society, the rights of older people are upheld.’

[1] The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) commissioned Millward Brown Ulster Limited to carry out an Omnibus survey into rights and older people.  The survey was conducted in August 2008 and involved 1000 interviews with a representative sample of the adult population (16+).

Should it be lawful to deny a person medical treatment on the grounds of their age?  Should insurance companies be allowed to refuse cover if an individual is over a certain age?  Research[1] commissioned by the Changing Ageing Partnership to launch Age Awareness Week (29 September – 3 October) clearly indicates that the answer is NO.  93 per cent of respondents agreed that it should be unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods and services in Northern Ireland on the basis of age; 70 per cent said there should be stronger age legislation put in place. 

The theme for Northern Ireland’s third Age Awareness Week is Rights with a particular focus on human rights and equality.  The key findings will be delivered on Monday 29 September at 10.30am in the Long Gallery, Stormont.

Anne O’Reilly, spokesperson for the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) and Age Awareness Week said ‘The findings of the research are especially poignant in a week when we are highlighting the need to introduce legislation to combat age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services.  An Equality Bill is due to be introduced in Great Britain which will afford older people in England, Scotland and Wales protection against such discrimination.  Unfortunately this legislation will not extend to Northern Ireland so discrimination against older people will continue to be lawful.

Almost one in two (49 per cent) of respondents were aware of instances where older people have been treated with less dignity and respect by people in health and social care professions because of their age. Age, unlike race, disability, religion, sexual orientation and gender, is not protected from discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. This situation is unacceptable.

84 per cent felt that the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive need to do more to ensure the rights of older people are protected and promoted.  We would call on the Executive to introduce legislation, in line with England, Scotland and Wales, to ensure older people in Northern Ireland are protected and ageism is eradicated from our society.

Anne O’Reilly continued‘A Single Equality Bill, which would encompass such protection, has been on and off the agenda of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive for some time.  The Programme for Government in 2001 planned to provide legislation that would have seen a Single Equality Bill in place by 2004. We are still waiting.  We would call on the Assembly and Executive to make the introduction of a Single Equality Bill a priority to ensure the rights of older people are protected and upheld.’

Sailortown Regeneration Group, supported by the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP), is holding an event as part of Age Awareness Week which will allow older people to discuss their fears regarding the increasing cost of living.  The event will also be used to demonstrate what  Sailortown Regeneration Group have achieved through successful lobbying with the aim of showing other older people's groups how they can make a real difference. 

Having completed workshops funded by the Changing Ageing Partnership, members have put their new found skills and knowledge to great use, and have worked with private housing developers in both Northern Ireland and England including the Clanmill Housing Association and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to achieve positive changes on the ground for older people in their area. 

Pat Benson, Chairman of the Sailortown Regeneration Group said 'We have come a long way during our 9 years of existence and we want other older people's groups to know what it is possible to achieve. We possess  the skills and confidence to make positive changes on the ground for older people and we plan to work with the Changing Ageing Partnership in the future to help hone these skills, push ourselves further, realise our dreams and to make even more progress in our efforts to regenerate our area.' 

The event takes place on Friday 3 October at 10.00am in Sailortown Offices, 11-13 Garmoyle Street, Belfast.

Research funded by the Changing Ageing Partnership proposes the introduction of a law to make it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of age in relation to the provision of goods, facilities and services. Should it be lawful to withhold medical treatment on the grounds of age?  Should holiday tour operators be allowed to place age restrictions on package deals?  Unfortunately due to the absence of legal protection in Northern Ireland, it is lawful.

Researchers from the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast are conducting research due to be completed in February 2009.  The research examines the position in a variety of countries where such legal protection has been in place for some time with a view to recommending whether, and if so to what extent, similar laws should be put in place in Northern Ireland. A seminar to explore ideas and invite discussion is being held on 30 September as part of Age Awareness Week.

Lisa Glennon, School of Law said 'The time is right for age discrimination to be taken just as seriously as other forms of discrimination on grounds such as gender, race and disability.  Our research proposes that age discrimination in goods, facilities and services should be outlawed unless the service provider can satisfy a strict legal test of necessity.’ 

One of the proposed recommendations from the research is that, following the model in the Republic of Ireland, age should be used to assess risk in the insurance industry only where decisions are based on accurate statistical data and not on blanket assumptions about a person based solely on their age.  A further recommendation is that, as in the United States of America, bodies which provide facilities or services to the public should only receive state funding if they can demonstrate that they are not discriminating against people on the basis of their age.

Grey Matters and Silver Power, members of three older people’s forums from South and East Belfast supported by the Changing Ageing Partnership and Engage with Age, will be showcasing their successes during Age Awareness Week. 

Having completed lobbying and advocacy workshops funded by the Changing Ageing Partnership, members have put their new found skills and knowledge to great use working with the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Belfast City Council, Castlereagh Council and Translink to achieve positive changes on the ground for older people.

One of the organisations forum members met with was Translink to discuss older people’s concerns in relation to bus routes, designated seating, timetables and kneeling buses.   Billy Gilpin, Central Area Network Manager, Translink described the meeting as very positive.  He said‘Can I just say how enjoyable the session was and how valuable to myself the feedback from the participants was.‘

Beryl Carson, a member of Belfast East Seniors Forum and participant in the Lobbying and Advocacy training said‘These workshops have given me the confidence and expertise to speak to people who make decisions about older peoples’ lives.’

There has been a recognition on behalf of both the forums and the organisations they have worked with of the mutually beneficial relationships which have resulted from such meetings and it is hoped that they will continue in the future.

Ballyhalbert Park Homes Residents Committee is hosting an Age Awareness Week event on 3 October.  The event, which is supported by the Changing Ageing Partnership, forms part of the committee’s campaign to highlight the lack of legal protection afforded to Park Home residents across Northern Ireland.  John McCallister, MLA for South Down, who is currently progressing a Private Members Bill aimed at extending legal protection to park home residents through Stormont, will be speaking at the event.

Residential Park Homes are a relatively new concept to Northern Ireland. Currently park home residents in Northern Ireland do not have the legal protection residents in Great Britain have because the Mobile Homes Act 1983 does not extend to Northern Ireland.  Ballyhalbert Park Homes Residents Committee want to reverse this situation and have invited John McCallister to discuss how his Private Members’ Bill will seek to achieve this.

John McCallister, MLA said‘I’m delighted to be part of this important event.  Our senior citizens must be afforded the same opportunities in life as the rest of us, and the UUP have been working tirelessly over recent years to improve the quality of life for older people within Northern Ireland.  There needs to be a better understanding of ageing within our community.  We can’t escape the fact that our population is growing older year on year; we need to ensure that older people are empowered to transform how they are viewed by sections within our society and that their voices are heard and listened to.  This draft Bill is an example of how their collective views can influence politics. ‘

At the event John will highlight the necessity to speak out about matters that impact on individuals’ every day lives and that by lobbying Members of the Legislative Assembly, positive change can be achieved.

Jack Moore, Chair of the Ballyhalbert Park Homes Residents Committee said‘We would welcome the introduction of legislation which would put Park Home residents in Northern Ireland on an equal footing with those living in Great Britain and hope to work with John in the future to achieve this.’

Research carried out for the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) entitled Better Housing for the Ageing Population in Northern Ireland concludes that those who design and plan sheltered accommodation in Northern Ireland could do more to meet the needs of the residents who live there.

The research was conducted by Dr Karim Hadjri a senior lecturer from the School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering at Queen’s University and will be launched on Thursday 22 May.

Dr Hadjri said:

‘There are over three hundred sheltered housing schemes in Northern Ireland registered with the Elderly Accommodation Council. Sheltered housing is specially designed housing for older people. The purpose of this research was to find out whether or not this type of accommodation meets residents needs and it outlines how sheltered housing can be made as accessible, safe and comfortable as possible for residents.

‘It seems that older people who live in sheltered accommodation are generally satisfied with their homes, particularly with the level of comfort and safety and the standard of private areas, such as bedrooms and bathrooms.

‘They are less satisfied, however, with communal areas, such as living areas and gardens. There are also concerns about the layout of some accommodation, the accessibility and ease of use of kitchens and storage areas, the standard of alarm systems, noise levels and temperature.

‘Whilst some sheltered accommodation developments in Northern Ireland are of a very high standard, others show room for improvement. 10 out of the 26 buildings surveyed during this research were less than satisfactory. Older people deserve to feel happy, comfortable and safe in their homes, and some simple modifications can help ensure that this is the case.’

Joan Cosgrove from Newtownabbey Senior Citizen’s Forum said:

‘This research is of utmost importance because it involved and informs those who it was researching.  I hope that the Assembly takes note of the findings and acts upon them.’

In conclusion to the research, the report makes the following recommendations:-

• using clear signage and coded colour schemes to help residents move around the building;
• providing space for residents to personalise their homes;
• locating housing within established neighbourhoods and close to amenities such as shops, post offices and religious buildings to ensure older people remain within the local community
• providing effective alarm systems, good lighting and easy access to emergency doors to ensure residents feel safe at home

The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) has completed the largest ever review of research into children’s perceptions of ageing. For the first time, researchers from Queen’s University, on behalf of CAP, have brought together the findings of thousands of pieces of research projects conducted worldwide.

The researchers at the Institute of Child Care Research hope their review will influence a change in the policies and practices that contribute to the negative stereotypes of older people that exist amongst children.

Dr Laura Dunne from the Institute is one of the co-authors of the research which is entitled ‘Looking Forward: A Systematic Review of Children’s Perceptions of Ageing’. Dr Dunne said “Northern Ireland, like many other parts of the world, has an ageing population. 16 per cent of the population here are of pensionable age and this is expected to rise to 24 per cent by 2013. As the proportion of older people in our society increases, it is important to understand how they are perceived by younger generations.

“Our review aims to answer a whole host of questions around what children think about older people and the prospect of ageing. It seems that children often have negative attitudes towards old age. They view it as something to be afraid of or worried about.

“With life expectancy increasing, it is important that these misconceptions are addressed so that today’s children can approach ageing and older people in a more positive way. They must be made aware of the realities of growing old so that they can plan for a longer lifespan in terms of their career, finances and health.

“Our review will provide an extensive resource for other researchers to help them find out more about the factors that contribute to children’s attitudes towards ageing. It will also be invaluable to those in education and policy-making who must address the negative stereotypes that are formed in early childhood and will facilitate more positive contact between young children and older people.”

Professor Ellen Douglas Cowie, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen’s, said: “I welcome this research which is the largest ever review of literature in this area. This is the latest in a series of CAP research projects which aim to identify and challenge attitudes to ageing.

“I hope this project will mark Queen’s University as a leading centre for intergenerational research, which looks at the relationships and gaps between people of different generations. We have already secured funding for a PhD student to take this research forward over the next three years and build upon the excellent work that has already been done.”

Dr Laura Dunne presented key findings from the research at a seminar at the Institute of Governance on Thursday 17 April 2008.

Would you like to be more active in making changes in your local community? Are you an older person who often feels your voice is unheard? If so, why not come along to a workshop being run by the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) on Wednesday 6 February 11.00am - 1.00pm in Dobbin Street Community Centre, Armagh.

Stephanie Campbell, CAP Development Officer will outline what a campaign is and how to go about campaigning.  Campaigns don't have to be large scale events; they can be a group of individuals getting together to campaign for street lighting or to stop the local post office closing down. Current legislation which protects older people against age discrimination and gaps in the legislation will be highlighted by James Knox, CAP Equality Officer.

This event will give you the opportunity to hear how organisations such as Help the Aged and Age Concern go about campaigning and will offer you the chance to chat with local people interested in making changes in your local community.

If you are interested in becoming more actively involved in campaigning, the Workers Educational Association offers workshops on lobbying and advocacy as part of the Changing Ageing Partnership.  Details of these workshops will be available on the day.

For more details on the event, please contact Leona Reid (CAP Administrator) on 028 9023 0666 or email Leona.reid@helptheaged.org.uk.

This event is free and refreshments will be provided.

Growing old is a happier experience than many of us imagine - that’s according to the findings of a study conducted at Queen’s University on behalf of the Changing Ageing Partnership.

The study, which was conducted by Dr John Garry from Queen’s University, looked at young people’s attitudes to happiness in old age and how these attitudes affect their current health-related behaviour.

Dr Garry said “We have all heard the saying ‘life begins at forty' but it seems that many people, particularly young people, actually associate growing old with being miserable, meaning they don’t see any benefit in preserving their health for old age.

“Young people like to enjoy themselves but this often means behaving in ways that can damage their future health. The harmful effects of alcohol, smoking and poor diet and fitness are well known but many young people still binge drink, smoke, avoid eating fruit and vegetables and fail to do regular exercise.

“This study aimed to find out whether this risky behaviour is associated with young people’s estimates of happiness in old age. Are they determined to ‘live it up’ while they are young because they are convinced that as they grow older they will become more and more miserable?

“The research found that, contrary to common belief, old age does not mean a decline in happiness; older people are just as happy as younger people. Whilst many young people associate old age with doom and gloom, this is not the case.

“We also found a strong link between the belief that happiness declines with age and levels of binge drinking by young men. It seems that these young men abuse their bodies through alcohol because, as they see it, there is little point in preserving their health for a miserable old age.

“Perhaps health professionals should consider this in their efforts to tackle binge drinking amongst young men. By addressing their incorrect perception that growing old is a miserable experience, they may be encouraged to drink more responsibly and take better care of their health.”

Archie and Margaret Lindsay, who are celebrating their 44th Valentine’s Day together, say they are perfectly happy in their old age. The couple attend the Newtownabbey Senior Citizens’ Forum. Mr Lindsay said: “I am surprised that so many young people think that getting older means being unhappy. My wife and I are both in our seventies and are as happy now as we were thirty years ago and I think many of our friends would say the same. In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years!

“It’s important that young people realise that they can still enjoy life as they get older. As long as they make an effort to look after themselves, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t look forward to a happy and fulfilled old age.”

Professor Colin Harvey, Head of Queen’s School of Law, welcomed the research saying: “I hope this research report will go some way to challenging the negative attitudes to older people that are so prevalent in society today. This is another significant and welcome contribution to the debate from the Changing Ageing Partnership.”