Ageing Matters Uniting for a fair State Pension - in Ireland - Age Action
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AgeingMatters in Ireland Uniting for a fair State Pension Budget 2018 A fair deal for older people 4-5 Stay safe online Advice on internet security 8-9 We did it! A hundred thousand little hats 10-11 Issue no. 275 ISSN No: 1649-3516 October 2017
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AgeingMatters October 2017
Opinion
In praise of kindness and advocacy
One of the best things about belonging to Age Action is
the continuing stream of compliments from people using
This booklet is a publication of our services. These compliments are best summed up by
Age Action. It is published six
times a year. a woman living alone about a visit by our Care & Repair
volunteers, “It’s not just the good work you do, it’s the
friendly way that you do it”.
Publisher Age Action Ireland Lorraine
Ltd Fitzsimons
The success of all our services is largely built on the
dedication of our many volunteers supported by small
Address 30-31 Lower teams of paid staff. Every time they help someone, they are Age Ac-
Camden St, tion to that person. Our growing reputation is based on their quiet and
Dublin 2 selfless service.
The value of this voluntary work can easily be underrated by those
Telephone (01) 475-6989
of us surrounded by loving families, friends and neighbours with the
resources to access professional services. In contrast, the smallest
Fax (01) 475-6011 acts and gestures of kindness by strangers can have a huge impact on
people who feel excluded and invisible and rarely experience recogni-
Email info@ageaction.ie tion let alone generosity.
Website www.ageaction.ie
Her beautiful gift
Delphine de Vigan in reflecting on her book No and Me (Bloomsbury
Age Action Company Limited by 2011) recalled taking her young son and his friend to play football
Ireland Ltd Guarantee in a park and she simply nodded her agreement for her son to let a
Registered in Ireland watching homeless man play with them. Afterwards the homeless man
No. 198571 thanked her for “her beautiful gift” in letting him play with her boys: his
Charity No. CHY
surprising gratitude convinced her that we could all do much more to
10583
recognise and reach out to homeless people through simple acts of
kindness and understanding.
Chief Lorraine Fitzsimons Our crisis of homelessness has recently hit the headlines due to
Executive four tragic deaths of homeless people and the record number of 8,160
Publishing & Justin Moran & homeless people, including 96 people over 65 and 973 children in
Information Gerard Scully
1,429 households, reported by the Department of Housing, Planning
and Local Government in July 2017.
design Catherine Osborn
Even these figures are far too low if we think of a house as a place of
security rather than just a roof: we should add 4,300 refugees (30 per
n Cover photo: cent of whom are children) in direct provision and 94,000 people who,
Orla O’Connor of the according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, spent time
National Women’s Council, on trollies or waiting to leave hospital in 2016.
Marie O’Toole of the Irish
We must go on giving kindly smiles, nods of recognition and helping
Countrywomen’s
hands but we know they won’t solve homelessness.
Association and Lorraine
Fitzsimons of Age Action We must also urge the Government to give top priority to ending the
campaigning for a fair scourge of homelessness and to provide social housing for people of
State Pension. all ages including implementing the proposals in the National Positive
Photo: Maxwells Ageing Strategy on housing for our rapidly ageing population.
— Lorraine Fitzsimons, Acting Chief Executive
3 October 2017 AgeingMatters ▲ Older people are being left on trollies for more than 20 hours. Age Action demands answers from health ministers Age Action has written to Minister for Health Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Older People Jim Daly TD after a new report claimed older people were waiting twice as long for a hospital bed as younger people. The report, published last month Ward staff are avoiding older tions are complex. in the Irish Medical Journal and people because they are more “We need to urgently find out reported in the Irish Times, found likely to have chronic or complex whether this is something that that patients under the age of conditions which require longer has gone wrong in the system in 20 at Beaumont Hospital waited stays. this one hospital or whether it is less than 10 hours for admission happening in hospitals the length but the wait was as high as 24 Answers needed and breadth of the country. hours for those aged 90 and Age Action spokespersons “Older people are not sec- over. strongly criticised the report in ond-class citizens, they should Although the report was the media, branding such an not be getting second-class focused solely on Beaumont approach as “inhumane”, and is healthcare.” Hospital in Dublin it echoes the seeking answers from the Gov- The report also highlights revelation in August that almost ernment. again the need for reform of the 6,000 older people were made to “Patients in our emergency de- Irish health service, which is too wait for more than 24 hours in partments should be assessed dependent on acute hospitals. emergency departments so far and receive care according to More primary care centres and this year. their need, regardless of their more homecare supports would The researchers believe that age,” said Age Action’s Head of greatly reduce the number of hospital wards are deliberately Advocacy & Communications older people who need to go to choosing younger patients as Justin Moran. emergency departments and they are more likely to have sim- “Patients with more serious find themselves facing long, pler problems and need a shorter conditions should not be ne- and often painful, waits for stay. glected because those condi- admission.
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AgeingMatters October 2017
▲ Orla O’Connor of the National Women’s Council, Marie O’Toole of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association and
Lorraine Fitzsimons of Age Action urging support for our petition for a fair State Pension. Photo: Maxwells
Age Action calls for a fair
budget for older people
In its pre-budget sub- 2009,” said Justin Moran, Head of a fair budget for older people,
mission Age Action has Advocacy and Communications at one that recognises the con-
called on the Government Age Action. tributions made over decades
to restore the incomes of “Cuts to income supports like by more than 600,000 workers,
older people after years of the Fuel Allowance and the Tele- homemakers, carers and busi-
cutbacks. phone Allowance, combined with nesspeople who are now pen-
rising prices and new taxes, are sioners.”
driving ever more older people
The organisation also highlight- into poverty. CSO figures show a Crisis in homecare
ed the need to invest in home steady increase in poverty levels Age Action also highlighted the
help services and reablement to among the over-65s from 2013 need for investment in supports
support older people to stay at to the latest report for 2015. to enable older people to remain
home when it published its top “Pensioners are increasingly longer in their homes. The HSE
priorities for Budget 2018. afraid of being taxed out of their budget for older people is still
“The income of an older per- homes or of being forced into a less than it was in 2009 despite
son on the State Pension and nursing home because there are a 23 per cent increase in the
the Household Benefits Package no home supports available. number of older people.
today is still less than it was in “The Government must deliver “Our home care services are
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October 2017 AgeingMatters
Age Action’s top priorities for Budget 2018
l Increase the State Pension by €5; l Introduce a reablement programme to
l Increase the Living Alone Allowance by €3; support 16,000 older people to live inde-
l Reverse the 2012 changes to the State pendently.Age Action also highlighted a large
Pension which have cut the incomes of tens number of other issues in separate pre-
of thousands of pensioners; budget submissions to different Government
l Increase home help hours to provide the ser- departments, all of which are online at
vice to an additional 22,300 people in 2018; www.ageaction.ie/budget2018.
Thousands back
Age Action
pension petition
As we go to print thou-
sands of people have
backed Age Action’s peti-
tion for a fair State Pension
in Budget 2018, supported
by the Irish Countrywom-
en’s Association and the
National Women’s Council
of Ireland.
The petition calls for
▲ United in calling for more money for homecare. Photo: Maxwells the changes to the State
Pension introduced in
in crisis. Across Ireland almost ablement programme for 16,000 2012 that cut the incomes
5,000 people are on home help older people as a cost-effective of so many older people
waiting lists and it is estimated way of supporting older people to be reversed and for the
that 22,000 people have unmet to stay at home. Homemakers’ Scheme to
needs,” said Justin. Tailored reablement pro- be backdated.
“Home help hours and home grammes, usually with support People have been sign-
care packages are simply not from an occupational therapist, ing the petition online and
available in many parts of the would be provided to people in members of Age Action,
country. This means more older their own homes for between the ICA and the NWCI have
people forced unnecessarily into three to 12 weeks. been sending hard copies
nursing homes, more families Justin Moran continued: “We’ve in on a daily basis.
struggling to cope without home seen it succeed in Ireland with A final big push took
helps and more pressure on a pilot study in north Dublin and place at the Ploughing
carers.” now we’re urging the Govern- Championships and the
ment to invest in reablement as petition will be delivered to
Reablement a smart, evidence-based, ap- Minister Regina Doherty TD
Age Action is also proposing an proach to enabling older people before the budget.
investment of €22 million in a re- to stay at home.”
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AgeingMatters October 2017
New campaign to support
people with dementia
Today there are approximately 55,000
people living with dementia in Ireland.
This number is set to double by 2031.
As numbers increase it is vital that we focus on
supporting people with dementia and their loved
ones.
Understand Together is a public support, aware-
ness and information campaign led by the HSE
working with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and
Genio.
It is aimed at inspiring people to stand together
with the 500,000 Irish people whose families have
been touched by dementia.
We want to help create an Ireland that embrac-
es and includes people living with dementia, and
which displays solidarity with them and their loved
ones.
Fear and stigma ▲ With growing numbers affected by dementia it’s
Each year more than 4,000 people in Ireland de- important we reach out.
velop dementia – that’s over 11 people every day.
Behind the numbers there are mothers, fathers, lic’s understanding of dementia as a brain disease
brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, neighbours and that is not simply part of getting older.
friends. It aims to increase awareness about the signs
All are living with a degenerative neurological and symptoms and the things that individuals can
condition that deeply affects their lives and the do to help reduce their risks of developing demen-
lives of people who care for them. tia. By standing together we can help build inclu-
Fear and stigma surround dementia, resulting in sive communities for people with dementia, carers,
unnecessary loneliness and isolation for people and families and friends.
living with dementia and their families. It will also encourage individuals, businesses and
It can also result in delays in seeking help and other organisations to take small practical steps to
diagnosis with people missing out on available help build compassionate communities to provide
supports and services as a result. These services vital social support to those experiencing demen-
and supports can allow people to live well with tia.
dementia for many years while maintaining their
dignity and a quality of life. For more information on dementia, Freephone
Understand Together aims to increase the pub- 1800 341 341 or visit www.understandtogether.ie.
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October 2017 AgeingMatters
▲ People affected by dementia launching an Alzheimer’s Society campaign to tackle stigma
What you can do to make Dementia facts
a difference l Dementia is an umbrella term
for a range of conditions, in-
Get informed: In Ireland today 1 in every 2 people knows cluding Alzheimer’s Disease,
someone with dementia, but only a quarter of us feel we which cause changes to, and
know much about it. damages, the brain.
If we all learn a bit more it would make us more confident l While some cases of demen-
about visiting and keeping in touch. tia can occur in young people,
For more information on free online training, visit www. it is most likely to develop in
understandtogether.ie/training-resources. older people over 65.
Keep in touch: Continuing to be social, meeting people and l Symptoms include changes
going out are important to live well with dementia. If you in memory, thinking, commu-
know someone with dementia, saying hello, stopping for a nication and difficulties with
chat regularly, calling in for a cup of tea, or arranging to go everyday tasks.
for a walk or to a match could be very welcome. l Age is the biggest risk factor
Care for carers: Over 180,000 people in Ireland are caring for dementia but dementia is
for, or have cared for, someone with dementia. Their experi- not a part of normal ageing.
ence can be both very rewarding and very difficult. You can l There is currently no cure for
help carers you know just by understanding more, asking dementia but growing evi-
them how they are or by calling and visiting. dence suggests that keeping
Age Action is a partner of the Dementia: Understand your mind and body active
Together campaign. and healthy can help prevent
or delay its onset.
8
AgeingMatters October 2017
▲ Online security is an important part of learning to use a computer.
Safer surfing
For those of us that didn’t grow up using computers who you say you are.
every day they can sometimes seem confusing and Passwords also stop some-
more than a little scary, writes Bank of Ireland’s one else from pretending to be
Adam Wild, but that’s no reason not to use them. you and reading your email or
accessing your bank details.
Computers and the internet open However, as well as opening It’s very important that you use
up a world of information and ex- up lots of positive opportunities strong passwords and never
periences to all age groups, allow- there are plenty of people look- share your passwords with
ing us to keep in touch with friends ing to take advantage of internet anyone.
and relatives a thousand miles users, whatever their age. Make sure your passwords
away, or in the next village. We can There are some relatively are long — at least eight char-
order groceries for delivery from simple rules that we should all acters — and include numbers,
the comfort of our homes. follow when we are online: upper and lowercase letters and
Missed that programme on symbols; avoid using names or
TV? No problem! Catch-up TV is 1. Passwords: When you use a dictionary words that could be
hugely popular on the internet. computer or visit a website you guessed.
Whether it’s making everyday will often be asked for a pass-
tasks easier or learning new word. This is really important 2. Social media: On social media
skills, the internet can help. because it confirms that you are sites like Facebook we can share
9
October 2017 AgeingMatters
our thoughts and photos with all
our friends instantly. But make
sure you use the privacy settings
in Facebook to control who sees
what you post. Normally you
want to restrict this to ‘friends’.
Also, think before you post.
What you share with friends could
easily be forwarded on to many
other people. My golden rule is: if
you wouldn’t say it on a postcard,
don’t write it on a website.
3. Junk mail: Unfortunately it’s
pretty common to be plagued by
junk or spam mail. Getting these
messages isn’t necessarily dan-
gerous, but it can be annoying.
Make sure you’re using whatev-
er spam filter is provided by your
email service or just delete the
annoying mails without opening
them. Never respond, even to
ask them to stop sending.
4. Computer viruses: Just like
us, computers can become in-
fected with a virus. But these are
man-made and designed to steal
or delete your information. ▲ A Bank of Ireland Digi Arrows session in Cavan.
Make sure you have up-to-date
anti-virus software running on
your computer. There are excel- steal your information. email a customer to ask for their
lent free versions available to They often encourage you to bank details.
download from the internet. click on a link in the email to get Bank of Ireland has dedicated
It’s also important that you keep some free offer or more informa- helpers in our branches, called
your computer up-to-date with the tion. Sometimes these emails ‘Digital Arrows’. They are ready
latest operating system updates. can look very convincing. to help people get started with
Your computer normally reminds In reality, clicking the link can things like email, browsing the in-
you when these are due. download a virus which allows ternet and using online banking.
someone to access your infor-
5. Phishing attacks: The most mation and computer. It is really For more information on
common way that viruses get important that you don’t click protecting yourself online visit
onto a computer is through on any links in emails when you www.bankofireland.com/
phishing attacks. These are don’t know who they are from or security. Ask in your local
emails that look like they come what the link will do. branch for details about our
from a genuine source but actu- Be suspicious, be safe. Re- Digital Arrows or contact them
ally come from people looking to member that banks will never directly at thearrows@boi.com
10
AgeingMatters October 2017
We did it!
A hundred thousand little woolly hats
innocent Ireland has donated €30,000
to Age Action for the annual Big Knit
campaign. This will help fund 36,000
DIY jobs in 34 locations around the
country through Age Action’s Care &
Repair programme.
Knitters across the country have knitted over
100,000 hats this year in the Biggest Big Knit ever
in Ireland.
Each little hat knitted by volunteers is put on
innocent smoothie bottles in shops and cafés
across the country and for each one sold, 30c is
donated to Age Action.
Over the past seven years, the Irish public has
knitted an astonishing 490,000 little hats for the
innocent Big Knit. This has raised over €150,000
to help older people stay warm and well during
winter.
The little hats will be appearing on shelves this
month and will be supported by a substantial ad-
vertising campaign that will include some surpris-
es for commuters around Dublin.
“The Big Knit is something we are really proud of
here at innocent,” said Matthew Gavin, Brand and
Communities Specialist for innocent Ireland.
Showing off
“Our knitters come in for tea regularly to show off
their latest hat designs and let us know how the
campaign helps them.
“This year we had our biggest Big Knit yet,
smashing our 100,000 hat target set earlier in the
year. We are so thankful to everyone who took part
and worked to make the campaign such a success
this year.”11 October 2017 AgeingMatters ▲ Above: Knitter Delo McArdle checking the last of the hats. ▶︎ Right: The Camden Street knitters say a big thank you to everyone who sent in a hat. ◀︎ Far left: Knitter Winnie O’Doherty with some of the 100,000 hats. Photos: Steadman Photography Critical funding reach 100,000 hats this year is a huge achievement. The funds given by innocent to Age Action are “Every cent goes to fund our Care & Repair one of the biggest donations the charity receives programme. This provides a DIY service for older every year and are critical to supporting our Care & people and it’s particularly important at winter Repair programme. when older people need the kind of minor repairs “We’re really grateful to innocent and to the hun- that ensure they can keep safe and warm. dreds of people, young and old, across Ireland who “That’s why we say every little hat counts, be- make the Big Knit so special each year,” said Age cause we know they’re going to be making a differ- Action’s Caroline O’Connell. “To break our record and ence this winter.”
12
AgeingMatters October 2017
tion,
Dear Age Ac
n-
e m p lo y e rs and I am wo
tly change d ve
I have recen te p e n s io n options. I ha
t my priva a defined co
n-
dering abou p a n y h a s
y new com ering what th
is
been told m I a m w o n d
nsion and
tribution pe
Waterford
means. Ronan from
Pension options
Private pensions are not mandatory, writes Gerry Scully, but given we all hope to
one day collect the president’s bounty and to live well while waiting for that happy
event private pensions are a necessity.
While most employers now provide private pen-
sions the heady days of Defined Benefit Schemes,
that guaranteed a certain level of income, are gone
and replaced by the more affordable (for the em-
ployer) Defined Contribution Schemes.
These offer certainty for how much an individual
pays but no guarantee of the pension’s value.
These may be offered in the form of individual
funds in which you choose from a number of prod-
ucts depending on the level of risk versus return
with which you are comfortable.
Alternatively, where there is a single fund man-
aged by the company, through a pension broker
and trustees, the value of one’s pension depends
on the value of the contributions a person makes
and for how long. ▲ It’s never too late to start saving for retirement.
Additional contributions
If a person, perhaps because they started their ca- This is very useful in today’s labour force as the
reer late, wishes to make additional contributions majority of people will have more than one employ-
occupational schemes often allow people to do so er in their career.
through AVC or Additional Voluntary Contributions. Finally, it is worth remembering that the Gov-
AVCs are very common in individually managed ernment provides generous tax relief on pension
funds but some centrally managed funds do not contributions to encourage people to save making
offer the option. investing in a personal pension an even better idea.
In the latter case an employee can take out a The world of private and occupational pensions
PRSA, or Personal Retirement Savings Account, is very complex. In my next few columns I will be
and you can take your pension from one employer explaining some of the terms and rules that apply
to another. to occupational pensions.13
October 2017 AgeingMatters
▲ A sample alarm that looks like the ones used in the Senior Alert Scheme.
Older people encouraged to sign up for
Seniors Alert Scheme
Pobal, which manages programmes funded by the dant or around the wrist like a
Government and the EU, is urging community groups watch, ensuring assistance is al-
to get supports for older persons under the Seniors ways available no matter where
the person is in their house.
Alert Scheme.
“I would encourage everyone
with older family members or
The Seniors Alert Scheme For those living in rural areas, neighbours who are living on
provides funding for personal isolation and crime rated highest their own to contact their local
monitored alarms for older peo- in their motivation for applying community group to learn more
ple. More than 14,000 have been to the scheme. about the scheme,” said Richard
distributed but there are a lot Deane.
more available. Peace of mind “We are also always keen to
Earlier this year it was revealed “The Seniors Alert Scheme is a hear from community groups
that €800,000 in the scheme’s fantastic initiative as it enables that may be interested in deliv-
budget had not been spent as people with limited means to ering the scheme locally. To find
demand fell prompting calls for remain living securely in their out about your local community
more to be done to inform peo- homes with confidence, inde- group or how to get involved
ple about the scheme. pendence and peace of mind,” please contact Pobal on 01 511
More than half of users sur- said Richard Deane of Pobal. 7222.”
veyed said an ‘existing health Pobal funds the alarm unit Age Action’s information team
condition’ was one of the rea- and the scheme is administered can also provide you with advice
sons for applying to the scheme, locally by community and volun- on the Seniors Alert Scheme
while ‘fear of crime’ (13 per cent) tary groups. and they can be contacted on
and ‘peace of mind’ (27 per cent) Alarms, which are monitored 01 475 6989 or email
were other contributory factors. 24 hours, can be worn as a pen- helpline@ageaction.ie.14
AgeingMatters October 2017
Growing old cheerfully
is a DIY job
Age Action member Angela MacNamara writes about the importance of a positive
outlook and challenging yourself as we grow older.
▲ Olive Sheeran of Ferndene Nursing Home in Dublin with some of her amazing pictures.
Every phase of life has its chal- the things you can no longer Essie, at the same age, finds it
lenges. It is important to make a achieve. hard to get up out of her chair,
clear decision to winkle the best each of them is great to do what
out of each new stage of living. Don’t make comparisons she can do with dignity and a
The later years need our pos- Don’t be put down by making sense of humour.
itivity and hope: whatever I can comparisons. If Molly decides to John talks regularly about
do, I will do. Don’t moan about try a parachute-jump at 76 while his delight at no longer having15
October 2017 AgeingMatters
to join the rush-hour traffic.
Hugh, who never did more in the
kitchen than make a ‘cuppa’, now
bakes delicious crusty whole-
meal bread a couple of times a
week. Each choice is as valid as
the next.
If you can’t get into all the mod-
ern technology, try to get the
simplest mobile phone and let
the grandchildren do the tricky
things for you. Then praise and
thank them.
Praise, encourage, thank
It’s so important to praise, en- ▲ Angela enjoying an afternoon out with her daughter.
courage and thank; it offsets our
own disappointment at losing pinch of solitude yourself, call on How about making greeting
skills we might have had in years a lonely neighbour. cards by cutting out a pretty
gone by. Yes, he may be cranky but what scene or a cartoon from a mag-
Perhaps the most valuable skill a heart-lift you and he could get azine and pasting it carefully on
now is to remember to smile. from spending that bit of time to pre-cut squares of blank card?
Smile at even the most difficult exchanging memories or dis- Good for you!
times; and smile even at your- cussing local or national news;
self. To smile is so easy and it you might even be able to stem Primroses
is infectious; others will smile his feeling of loneliness. A lovely, smile-giving, thing to
back. do is to buy yourself a little
Of course we feel the pains of It takes real pluck – even primrose in a pot and put it on
growing older, the losses of both your window-sill. (You may have
heroism at times – to turn
people and skills, the physical to remove the clutter of things
losses. It takes real pluck – even difficulties around and you’d already dumped there but
heroism at times – to turn diffi- create new possibilities. so much the better.) Then mark
culties around and create new the progress of your little flower
possibilities. and water it with love.
And then, most importantly, It is important to keep up, as Growing old as cheerfully as
avoid recounting your pains and much as you can, with what’s possible is a do-it-yourself job. It
aches to everyone; most people going on in the world of which can be an hour-by-hour decision.
have their own troubles and want you are still part. Also, do keep But when people see you
to be cheered up. up with old hobbies as far as you smiling and making real efforts
(I do hope you find the real can. they will be drawn to you and you
treasure – one or two people Even if you are now a bit clum- yourself will, every so often, be
with whom you can have an sy with the needles or the paint flushed by the warm feeling of
occasional moan and be hugged brush, try to find an alternative making a go of your life.
and listened to.) way of keeping larger needles Perhaps, today, you will buy
A real boost to oneself is to clicking or buy colouring pencils yourself the primrose I men-
try to make life a tad better for instead of trying to cope with tioned – and maybe one for a
someone else. Even if feeling the messy paints. neighbour too?16
AgeingMatters October 2017
Leaving a lasting
legacy
Did you know that just over half of us have made a will, asks Daragh Matthews.
While this is a subject that some of us would rather not think about, it is something
we all need to address as we grow older.
This year Age Action is delight-
ed to be part of Best Will Week,
which will be launched on 31 Oc-
tober in the Cliff Townhouse, St
Stephen’s Green, by Tánaiste and
Minister for Business, Enterprise
and Innovation Frances Fitzger-
ald TD.
Best Will Week highlights the
amazing difference people can
make to organisations, like Age
Action, by leaving a legacy gift,
large or small, once family and
friends have been considered.
This year’s campaign urges the
public not to leave this important
matter on the long finger and
to make an appointment with
a solicitor to discuss how best
they can provide for those they ▲ Legacy gifts have been essential to services like Care & Repair.
care about through planning
their will. The process is usually organisation and Age Action is their loved one by seeing how
much more straight forward than no different. lives are improved and changed
people think. Legacy gifts have played a criti- because of the generosity of
cal role in supporting our key ser- someone they cared about.
Finding a solicitor vices to survive and to expand. So please consider Age Action
More than 500 solicitor firms Care & Repair, for example, does when making your will and leave
from all around the country have a fantastic job helping older peo- a lasting legacy for future gener-
registered to support Best Will ple by providing free DIY support ations.
Week and we would encourage but it gets no State funding and If you would like any further
readers to find out more at www. relies entirely on the generosity information on leaving a gift to
mylegacy.ie. of members of the public. Age Action in your will, please
Support from legacies is vitally For family members this very call Daragh on 01 475 6989 or
important for the long-term special gift gives them a mean- email businessdevelopment@
sustainability of any voluntary ingful way of remembering ageaction.ie.17
October 2017 AgeingMatters
◀︎ Seforosa,
64, from Uganda
runs a banana
field and grows
coffee. She is
photographed
in 2013 with
her daughter,
granddaughter
and great-grand-
daughter.
Fighting for pensions in Ireland and Africa
The Ageing & Development team would like to say a big thank you to all who par-
ticipated in our survey, conducted through the last edition of Ageing Matters, writes
Development Officer Judith Slovák.
We were delighted to receive almost 300 respons- food and healthcare. They can also transform the
es and a further 111 online submissions. role of older people in their families and communi-
This data will be very useful for us as we set ties by bringing independence and dignity.
about a new, 5-year, programme focussing on In addition, universal pensions can prevent the
issues affecting older people in developing coun- perpetuation of gender inequalities into old age.
tries. Expect discussion of results in upcoming Beyond older people themselves, pensions are
articles! transformative for households, with children in par-
Our programme is funded by Irish Aid, the Irish ticular benefitting from improved nutrition, greater
Government’s overseas development programme. school enrolment and less child labour.
We work in partnership with the NGO HelpAge In- Moreover, pensions are often the first major step
ternational to carry out a development programme to a wider lifecycle system of social protection, as
in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. was the case in Ireland over a century ago.
In May I travelled to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, We are excited by the growing interest in so-
to participate in a workshop to hammer out final cial protection, particularly universal pensions,
details and to launch the new programme which across Africa and the growing commitment from
will run from 2017 to 2021. governments to introduce State-funded pension
systems.
Life-changing pensions Stay tuned as we share the stories of older peo-
Our work in East Africa has a very specific focus ple who, for the first time in their lives, are begin-
– promoting access to social protection. This is ning to benefit from the transformative power of
because receiving a pension has a truly life-chang- pensions!
ing impact for older people in these countries. In the next edition, we will share news of our
Pensions – small but reliable cash transfers – HelpAge colleagues’ visit to Ireland for Positive
help older people pay for everyday expenses like Ageing Week.18
AgeingMatters October 2017
Age Action rules out pension age increase
Age Action, Ireland’s leading advocacy organ- keep working as they age has serious health
isation for older people, strongly criticised implications.
recent proposals from the ESRI to increase the “The overwhelming majority of us are going
State Pension age to 70. to rely on the State Pension in retirement. We
“The pension age is already due to rise to 68 need to ensure it is fair and sustainable. But the
over the next ten years and we would be abso- solution is not simply to keep increasing the
lutely opposed to any suggestion to increase pension age.
it again,” said Justin Moran, head of Advocacy “We need to abolish mandatory retirement,
and Communications with Age Action. divert some of the money funding private pen-
sion tax breaks into the State Pension system
Physically demanding and look at increasing social insurance contri-
“Not everyone works in an office. Forcing butions.”
workers in physically demanding jobs like
construction, agriculture or healthcare to Read about our pension petition, page 5.19
October 2017 AgeingMatters
Celebrating Cisco in style
Cisco Systems was one of the big winners at the
Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility
Awards last month for their work with Age Action.
A worldwide leader in IT and networking the
company is a key corporate partner for the Getting
Started computer training programme.
Volunteers ▲ The Cisco team and Age Action’s Helen Murray
Cisco staff based in their Oranmore offices vol- receiving the award from Minister Seán Kyne and Ian
unteer their time to run computer classes and Talbot from Chambers Ireland.
have provided training to more than 60 local older
people. Officer Helen Murray.
“We’re delighted to see Cisco get recognised for “Their support, and that of VMware in Cork who
their generosity and commitment to supporting were also nominated for an award, is essential to
older learners,” said Getting Started Development making Getting Started the success that it is.”
q Lucan U3A
U3Agroups Mary at lucanu3a@gmail.com.
q Monaghan U3A
Eamonn at (087) 918-6567
q Active Virginians U3A q Club 50, Donegal U3A
Patricia at (087) 235-0515 Anne at Annegallagher60@
q Newcastle, Dublin 22
yahoo.ie
U3A, Retired Active
q An Cosán U3A Tallaght
Men’s Social
Imelda at (01) 462-8488 q Dublin City U3A Matt at (01) 458-9007
John at (01) 201-7490
q Ballymun U3A
Peter at (087) 292-4001 q Roscommon U3A
q Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey, Sam at (01) 475-6989
Killiney U3A
q Ballyroan U3A Email dldk@gmail.com
June at (01) 494-7030 q Rusheen Woods, Galway,
U3A
q Galway U3A Angela at rusheenwoodsu3a@
q Blackrock U3A Livio Rocca at u3agalway@
gmail.com
Eileen at (087) 418-8607 gmail.com.
q Blessington U3A q Sutton-Baldoyle U3A
q Maynooth U3A Christine at (01) 832-3697
Peter at (087) 815-1018 Helena at (01) 628-5128.
q Bray U3A q Tramore U3A
Mollie at molliehunt@eircom.
Linda at (086) 045-1600
For more information, email net
Sam O’Brien-Olinger, U3A
q Carrick-on-Shannon U3A
Margaret at (086) 837-2934 Development Officer, at u3a@ q Waterford U3A
ageaction.ie or phone (01) Josephine at (051) 871-037
475-6989.20
AgeingMatters October 2017
Have you a Heart of Gold?
On 29 September Age Action and they show it every day in the
launched our Heart of Gold support they provide for their
Campaign and Emblem to help children and grandchildren.
raise vital funds and awareness The Heart of Gold Campaign
nationally. will highlight this amazing contri-
We’re calling on people of all bution as part of Positive Ageing
ages to show they have a Heart Week every year.
of Gold by purchasing a Heart
of Gold Pin for €2 to celebrate If you would like to support this
the contribution older people year’s campaign by buying a pin
are making to their families and or making a donation, please
communities. contact fundraising@ageaction.ie
Age Action believes that older or call our fundraising team at 01
people truly have a Heart of Gold 475 6989.
Annual membership application
I wish to join Age Action and enclose STANDING ORDER
€............ membership fee, plus €................ To the Manager
voluntary donation payable to Age Action (Name of Bank/Building Society)���������������������
Ireland Ltd. �����������������������������������������������������������������������
If you are already an existing Age Action Bank Address:�������������������������������������������������
member and wish to renew your membership, �����������������������������������������������������������������������
please write your membership number here �����������������������������������������������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������������� Please pay annually to Age Action Ireland,
Permanent TSB, 70 Grafton Street, Dublin 2,
Full name:������������������������������������������������������� BIC: IPBSIE2D
(Block capitals please) IBAN: IE82 IPBS 9906 2587 7790 21
Address:���������������������������������������������������������� the following amount €..............................������
����������������������������������������������������������������������� until further notice. Starting on: 1st day of
Tel: ����������������������������������������������������������������� January 20..... .
Email: ������������������������������������������������������������� Name:�������������������������������������������������������������
(Block capitals please) (Block capitals please)
BIC: ���������������������������������������������������������������
Date: ��������������������������������������������������������������� IBAN:���������������������������������������������������������������
Signature:��������������������������������������������������������
Please return to:
FEES Membership Development,
€20 Individual – retired/unwaged Age Action Ireland Ltd,
€40 Individual – employed 30/31 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2.
€60 Voluntary Body Email: membership@ageaction.ie
€200 Statutory Agency Tel: (01) 475 6989
€500 Commercial Fax: (01) 475 6011You can also read
