Category:
User Experience
Net4Age Ontology Terms:
acceptance
, aging
, citizen
, education
, ethic
, experience
, inclusion
, isolation
, participation
, people
, place
, policy maker
, wellbeing
Description:
Age Friendly Ireland is the organisation responsible for the national Age Friendly Programme, affiliated to the World Health Organization's [WHO] Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. The programme involves a multiagency, multi-sectoral approach to age-related planning and service provision. Age Friendly Ireland supports cities and counties to be more inclusive of older people by addressing their expressed concerns and interests under the eight pillars of the World Health Organization's global programme.
Overview:
Far too often, older people are stereotyped and excluded. Negative images of age and ageing can result in disrespectful behaviour. Some ageism biases that sadly exist can result in older people feeling that they are not listened to and are a burden on society.Members of the Older People's Council pictured before their meeting. Limerick City and County Council, Dooradoyle, Limerick. Picture credit: Diarmuid Greene/FusionshootersThe extent to which older people participate in the social, civic and economic life of the city is also closely linked to their experience of inclusion. Respect and feelings of social inclusion often have an impact on an older person's health and wellbeing and their levels of social, civic and economic participation.Everyone wants to feel valued. Intergenerational activities are a great way for young and old to learn from one another, recognise what each has to offer and, at the same time, feel good about themselves.Age Friendly Cities and Counties counter ageism and prejudice through promoting age awareness and informing the general public about the rights, needs and potential of the diversity of older people, and highlighting their social, economic and cultural contributions to the community.
Objectives:
Developing age friendly business recognition schemes with the support of the local Chambers of Commerce and Local Enterprise Offices - which enable local businesses to adopt age-friendly practices such as tailored customer service arrangements for older people - with now more than 750 businesses participating nationwide.Ensuring that the Older People's Council are active, representative of the diversity of older people, and supportive of the most marginalised.Facilitating key public, voluntary and commercial services to engage and consult meaningfully with the Older People's Councils and with older people generally, in policy development and the planning of service provision.Providing age friendly awareness training to the staff of local public, voluntary and commercial services.Appointing ?Age Friendly Ambassadors?within key public, voluntary and commercial services to undertake age proofing within their organisations.Delivering modules on age awareness to local schools, colleges and businesses.Supporting initiatives which enable older people living in residential care to contribute to and participate in the life of the wider community.
Initiatives:
Responded to consultations with older people across Ireland
Shortcomings:
Needs to measure the impact of any changes it has made from the perspectives of older people.
Relevance:
4
Relevance Description:
Directly related to older adults and perceptions of ageing
Quality:
4
Opinion:
It is a good initiative but needs to provide examples of actual changes made and also consult with the older population to get their opinions of its impact on their daily lives.
Recommended:
Yes
Overlap:
No
Overlap Detail:
Sources:
https://agefriendlyireland.ie/category/respect-social-inclusion/why-its-important-respect-social-inclusion/
Keywords:
respect, inclusion, social isolation, ageism
Submitted By:
Helen Kelly
Email:
helen.kelly@ucc.ie