Say No to Ageism Week which ends on Sunday helps reinforce yet again that the ageing process is a vital political and social issue that has been ignored by government for many decades. Ageism, which has been dubbed the "last ism", needs to be tackled on many fronts if our increasingly older population is to have financial security and its rights to employment, decent housing and care in the latter years protected.
Younger people, too, need to be reminded that by 2050 they will be part of a grey generation making up to 25 per cent of the population. The implications for pension coverage, health and community care services are clear. Long-term strategies are vital - strategies which, among other issues, must take account of the many reports over the years on long-term care, all of which stressed that older people should be assisted to stay in their own homes as long as possible. These reports, however, were largely ignored, except in so far as they were trotted out at conference after conference. Meanwhile, adequate community services which would have ensured that the elderly could stay comfortably at home deteriorated even further to the state that not only clients of these services, but practitioners as well, are now demoralised and unsure of their role.
It reflects badly on Irish society that, as is shown in a report from the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the elderly believe that they are often discriminated against in the provision of health services. The bar on women over 65 from breast screening is incomprehensible and can only be regarded as an insult to women, as Age Action has often stressed. Such barriers to equality in- service for older people also percolate into other parts of the health system and are sadly sometimes a mirror of the general public attitude. The shameful abuse of older people through illegal nursing home charges is proof enough that the aged can be powerless.
The battle for older people's equality, however, needs to be fought not only by the campaigning organisations, but by every older person so that the barriers to their full inclusion in every aspect of Irish life can be chipped away. Healthcare and pensions have recently been the main focus, but healthy ageing also involves freedom to work and be promoted, buy reasonable travel insurance, drive and hire cars, study and have loving relationships. There needs to be an awakening to the benefits of ageing, and to the opportunities for a full and rewarding life.
Hopefully, Say No to Ageism Week will have won further adherents to the cause of older people in our society.