From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges ...

Combating Age Discrimination 9Listed below are some principles we would suggest for making change happen:be explicit about priorities for changemake clear recommendations for changeidentify areas where small changes can be made immediately, as part of a longer-term strategybuild on sustainable, incremental improvementsplan training and development that link awareness of age discrimination with planning for changelink action to other relevant initiatives for changeensure that there are structures to link the scrutiny group with boards and councils responsiblefor resourcing and implementing changeinvolve staff and empower them to make changesidentify key people who can take action and be allies in making change happenbe clear that tackling age discrimination is an ongoing process, not a one-off eventlearn from the experience of others.52Other InitiativesWe have received positive feedback on the use of the King's Fund guide. There is now moreawareness of age discrimination and greater efforts are being made to tackle it. There is, however,still widespread concern among older people, particularly about attitudes.The initial impetus to audit and take action may have stalled somewhat in some areas but it isimportant to continue. We have found that the role of older people's champions (outlined in the NSFdocument) is valuable and worth supporting.ToolkitThe Toolkit for Older People’s Champions produced for the Department of Health is available to helpnon-clinical older people's champions. It aims to give practical advice for non-executive directors,councillors and lay people acting as older people's champions.Age Awareness WeekWe ran an Age Awareness Week at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, East London. Itwas the culmination of work to challenge ageism and age discrimination in one hospital. There was aseries of linked events including advice and screening sessions, exchange of worn slippers, advice onfalls prevention, talks on health issues, and question and answer sessions involving patients, carers,clinicians and managers. We invited wards and departments to submit details of what they were9 As noted in the Introduction, these recommendations are not necessarily sufficient to constitute a defence to a claim fordiscrimination under Irish equality legislation.Conference Proceedings