Older & Bolder closed June 2013 This is an archived website
Timeline 2006-2013
2006
5 organisations come together as Older & Bolder to campaign for a political commitment to the development of a national strategy on ageing. 30,000 petitions collected from older people.
2007
FF/Green Party Programme for Government includes promise to develop a National Positive Ageing Strategy.
July – August 2008
Older & Bolder, now an alliance of 8 organisations, employs 2 staff and sets up offices in Jervis House.
September 2008
Baseline Statement on National Positive Ageing Strategy (NPAS) published.
December 2008
National Conference, “Nothing about us without us” calling for consultation with older people on NPAS convened in Dublin.
November 2008 – June 2009
Consultation meetings with older people on NPAS in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Tralee, Trim, Tullamore and Wexford.
April 2009
Launch of pre-Local Election On the Doorstep campaign to promote wider political awareness of NPAS.
October 2009
Launch of What does Positive Ageing mean to Older People? A summary of feedback from Older & Bolder’s consultation meetings with older people.
Strong emphasis on bread and butter issues e.g. income, health care, transport.
November 2009
Launch of Older & Bolder submission on NPAS, chaired by retired judge of Supreme Court, Mrs. Catherine McGuinness.
October – December 2009
1ST Pre-Budget Campaign: My pension is my shopping, heating, independence. My dignity. Act now to protect basic supports.
February 2010
Older & Bolder established as limited company with charitable status.
March – May 2010
Consultation with older people on social protection issues in Dublin, Galway, Donegal, Tralee.
June 2010
Launch by Mr. David Begg, Secretary General of ICTU, A Secure Pension System for All? Baseline Position on National Pensions Framework.
September 2010
2nd pre Budget campaign: Defend the State Pension and associated supports.
November 2010
Launch of online film on State Pension. Development & extension of online campaigning.
December 2010
43,533 campaign signatures collected in support and presented to Minister for Finance.
February – March 2011
Pre General Election Campaign: Our High Five: Fairer Health Care, Secure Pension, Local Transport, My
Involvement and National Plan on Ageing.
Publication of One for All, Age Friendly Health and Social Care: Perceptions and Experiences for submission to Programme for Government negotiations.
Inclusion in FG/Labour Programme for Government of commitment to publish NPAS.
April – July 2011
Consultation with older people in Claremorris, Navan, Dublin on health and social care issues. Consultation extended to nursing homes and day care centres for first time.
July 2011
Set-up of media training for Older & Bolder advocates. Working group of legal professionals convened by PILA to research ‘right to care’ for older people.
September 2011
Attendance with ICCL at Universal Periodic Review of Ireland’s human rights record in Geneva.
November 2011
Launch of 3rd pre-Budget campaign. Designed as 1 year campaign, spanning interests of all member organisations of alliance: Make Home Work, The right to age well at home.
Oral & written submissions to Seanad Public Consultation Committee on Rights of Older People.
January 2012
Publication of Older People Speak Up on health, social care and the future of healthcare financing in Ireland; promotion through radio advertising.
January – December 2012
Outreach to Day Care centres, older people’s groups and community groups around the country about Make Home Work campaign.
Face-to-face contact with 2,000 older people approximately.
February 2012
Launch of Caught in the Web, Mapping Older People’s Pathways to Public Services.
Researched by Olga McDaid, TCD; launched by Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly; event chaired by retired Judge, Mrs. C. McGuinness.
February 14 2012
Courting Hearts & Minds, Being Heard as older and younger advocates, Seminar to mark EY2012, addressed by President Michael D. Higgins.
March 2012
Launch of Seanad Report on Rights of Older People; O&B recommendations incorporated e.g. call for legislative framework for community care.
May 2012
Launch of street mural with O&B advocate, Mrs. Mabel Gargan: “I want to grow old at home”.
June 2012
Follow up Seanad debate on Rights of Older People report; on foot of cross-party lobbying by O&B, Minister for Older People commits to publication of NPAS by end of 2012.
June 2012
Launch of Make Home Work Charter by Make Home Work Champions: Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness, Mrs. Maura Cranny O’Donnell, Senator Feargal Quinn, Ms. Imelda Byrne, Ms. Geraldine Plunkett, Ms. Anna-Mai McHugh.
September – December 2012
4th Pre-Budget Campaign. Continuation of Make Home Work with pre-Budget message: Rescue Home Care, HSE Cuts Make No Sense, Reverse the cuts to Home Care.
Enthusiastic public response at Ploughing Championships, attended by O&B for first time.
€5m of the €8 million cuts to Home Care were not implemented.
January 2013
Make Home Work campaign remained ‘live’ and challenged accuracy of HSE 2013 Service Plan statistics & commitment to sustain 2013 home care service levels at 2012 levels.
Prime Time briefed and TV programme highlighting the issues broadcast.
February 2013
Older & Bolder announces impending closure to supporters.
April 24 2013
Launch of National Positive Ageing Strategy.
April 25 2013
Older & Bolder’s closing conference, Our Journey Together, takes place in Dublin.
June 30 2013
Closure of Older & Bolder.
