Older people from all parts of Ireland mark Older & Bolder’s closing conference [02/05/2013]

Older people from all parts of Ireland participated in Older & Bolder’s closing conference on April 25 in the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin.  It was a bittersweet occasion.  

On the one hand, there was sadness that Older & Bolder, an advocacy alliance which has campaigned for the rights of older people, will close on June 30.  On the other, there was pleasure that the National Positive Ageing Strategy had finally been published the previous day by the Minister for Older People, Kathleen Lynch TD.  Publication of the strategy followed a 7 year campaign by older people, led by Older & Bolder.

The chairperson of Older & Bolder, Mr. Owen Keenan, complimented the representatives of numerous groups from all around the country on their passionate and persistent campaigning. He said that they had convinced politicians of the absolute need for the National Positive Ageing Strategy; as well as campaigning in defence of the State Pension, supporting the Make Home Work campaign and the right to age well at home; and resisting cuts to home care services.

Older & Bolder conducted 4 pre-Budget campaigns and 1 General Election campaign between 2008 and 2013. In those campaigns, the 7 member organisations of Older & Bolder spoke with one voice on the National Positive Ageing Strategy and on bread and butter issues such as health, income and transport. Ms. Patricia Conboy, Director of Older & Bolder expressed concern that older people will be less well protected in the face of future budgets and austerity measures now that Older & Bolder is closing.  

However, she expressed the hope that older people and their local groups would continue to use their capabilities and energy to work “for the Ireland we imagined together, an Ireland ... that enables everyone to live and die with confidence and dignity as equal, respected and involved members of our society”.  Ms. Conboy also advised older people to sustain pressure on Government and on their local public representatives for the publication of an implementation plan to accompany the National Positive Ageing Strategy.  Minister Lynch has committed to the completion of an implementation plan within 6 months which will incorporate actions, timelines and performance indicators for the strategy.

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