Where has all the respect gone?

Older people are treated with less respect today compared to ten years ago. This is the startling finding from a piece of research commissioned by the Changing Ageing Partnership to launch Age Awareness Week (1 - 5 October 2007).

To support the launch of Age Awareness Week and its theme of respect, the Changing Ageing Partnership commissioned independent research into respect and older people.

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 importance of respect for older people.

"72% of those surveyed not only feel that society does not respect older people enough but 59% also feel that older people are treated with less respect today compared to 10 years ago. In an ageing society this is a cause of great concern.

"On the positive side 97% of those surveyed agreed everyone has a responsibility to ensure older people in Northern Ireland are respected. That 'everyone' includes organisations and bodies, policy makers, the wider society and older people themselves.

"One of the key objectives of CAP is to provide older people with the framework, skills, knowledge and voice to campaign on their own behalf: to challenge the stereotypes that exist around being older and to achieve a better quality of life.

"As our research shows, people are in agreement that more should to be done to ensure older people are respected. The Changing Ageing Partnership is committed to empowering older people and supporting them to campaign on issues important to them. We hope local government, bodies and the wider society will take note of the activities taking place as part of Age Awareness Week and will step up to the challenge set out in order to ensure that older people have the respect they deserve and their rightful place in society. "

'An opportunity to learn, an opportunity for the future'

9 in 10 people agree that discriminatory attitudes towards older people can never be justified.  This is one of the findings from recent research commissioned by the Changing Ageing Partnership to launch Age Awarness Week (1-5 October 2007).

A major conference entitled 'Goods, Facilities and Services - An opportunity to learn, an opportunity for the future' is being hosted by the Changing Ageing Partnership tomrrow in the Radisson SAS Hotel Belfast to discuss the issue of age discrimination in goods, facilities and services.  Baroness Greengross will speak for the first time in her new rolde as a Commissioner in the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in Great Britain.

Anne O'Reilly, spokesperson for the Changine Ageing Partnership and Age Awareness Week said

"Age Awareness Week this year is highlighting the importance of respect for older people.  Unfortunately older people are still discriminated against in terms of the provision of goods, facilities and services.  This conference is an opportunity to debate the issue of age discrimination.  We are calling on the government to introduce legislation which will outlaw these discriminatory practices."

Three year olds capable of ageist attitudes

Previous research has demonstrated that children as young as three use ageist language and that preschool children hold negative attitudes about older people. 

Tomorrow (Friday 5 October) Dr Laura Dunne, School of Sociology, Social Policy & Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast will present preliminary findings from a systematic review of literature relating to children’s and young people’s perceptions of old age in the Senate Room in Queen’s University. 

This research seminar is one of the many events which have been organised by the Changing Ageing Partnership as part of Age Awareness Week and links closely with the theme of the week which is respect.  By finding out how children view older people, greater understanding and respect between generations can be promoted and hence more cohesive communities built.

 Dr Dunne said

"This project is looking at all the existing information on what children think about older people using a systematic review methodology.  We hope to identify areas in need of research and carry out a further project to answer these questions."

During the seminar Dr Dunne will highlight some ageing education initiatives and discuss the way forward in terms of future research. The call for ageing education to be integrated in our schools and communities has been the focus of many studies and has become a national imperative.

Calling all older people interested in making a change in their local community

 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 Thursday 29 November 11.00am - 1.00pm in West Bann Development Group, 8 Killowen Court, COLERAINE.

Stephanie Campbell, CAP Development Officer will outline what a campaign is and how to go about campaigning.  Campaigns do not 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 Stephanie Campbell (CAP Development Officer) on 07734 553605 or email stephanie.campbell@helptheaged.org.uk

This event is free and refreshments will be provided.

Coast to coast lessons from the USA

Dr John Copleton, Senior Careers Adviser in Queen's University Belfast will share his experiences of America's positive approaches to ageing on Thursday 6 December in the Institute of Governance, 63 University Road, Belfast at 1.00pm.  This is the last event in the current series of Changing Ageing Partnership research seminars and follows on from a very successful seminar John gave in June.

With some 77 million Americans set to enter their sixties over the next twenty years, America is an ideal place to study community initiatives aimed at increasing the involvement of older adults.  Dr John Copleton and travelled from coast to coast to examine a wide range of projects which focused on improving the quality of life of older Americans. Key to all the initiatives John visited was the desire to enrich the experience of the third age and to change public perceptions of ageing from being viewed as a problem to being seen as an opportunity. 

Dr John Copleton said

"Active participation by older adults has shown time and time again to result in healthy ageing.  We can all learn from the American approach to ageing. There is a real drive to change public perceptions from 'the problems of an ageing population' to 'the opportunities for a well-educated, healthy older generation." 

From surfing the net to visiting the European Parliament - Older people in East Belfast become louder and stronger thanks to the Changing Ageing Partnership

On Tuesday (11 December) older people will join together in Dee Street Community Centre at 10.00am to celebrate the completion of Internet and email courses organised by the Workers' Educational Association as part of the Changing Ageing Partnership.  Individuals will be presented with certificates at the event in recognition of their achievement.

For Anne Gamble, a member of Heyday and the Age Sector Reference Group, learning how to surf the net led to a visit to the European Parliament in Brussels.  Anne said

"I felt strongly about politicians not dealing with older people's issues.  Having learnt how to navigate the internet, I was able to find out more about which countries had and which countries did not have an Independent Commissioner for Older People.  I then wrote to David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, to raise this issue with him  and was invited to visit Brussels where I met Members of the European Parliament." 

Anne went on to say

"Learning how to surf the net has opened up a whole new world to me.  Access to this invaluable resource will give me and my group a stronger voice."

The Workers' Educational Association has developed a range of practical workshops focusing specifically on getting the voices of older people heard.  These include sessions on lobbying and campaigning, engaging others, negotiation skills, publicising your message, effective communication and creating a professional image.  For more information on the courses offered by the Workers Educational Association, please contact Attracta Cosgrove on 028 9092 1231 or email attracta.cosgrove@wea-ni.com

Older people in the Lurgan and Portadown area become louder and stronger thanks to the Changing Ageing Partnership

On Thursday (13 December) members of the Forever Young and the Young at Heart Club will join together in the Craigavon Leisure Centre at 10.00am to celebrate the completion of Internet, email and digital photography courses organised by the Workers' Educational Association as part of the Changing Ageing Partnership.  Individuals will be presented with certificates at the event in recognition of their achievement.

Eleven members of Forever Young completed the Internet and Email course.  Elizabeth Lough, Chair of Forever Young said

"This course has given me so much more confidence in using the Internet.  It has opened up a whole new world to our members and indeed some of them are considering purchasing laptops.  Knowing how to use email means we can communicate with friends and family who live abroad.  Knowing how to navigate the internet is particularly useful in looking for information on issues which affect older people such as health, transport, care and financial matters and in connecting us with people who make decisions about older people's lives.  Access to this information gives us a stronger voice."

The Workers' Educational Association has developed a range of practical workshops focusing specifically on getting the voices of older people heard.  These include sessions on lobbying and campaigning, engaging others, negotiation skills, publicising your message, effective communication and creating a professional image.  For more information on the courses offered by the Workers' Educational Association, please contact Attracta Cosgrove on 028 9092 1231 or email attracta.cosgrove@wea-ni.com

Calling all older people interested in making a change in their local community

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.

Life begins at 40 and 50 and 60...

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.”

New research provides insight into children’s views on ageing

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.

Changing Ageing Partnership research finds 38 per cent of sheltered complexes surveyed are unsatisfactory

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