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

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IntroductionAims and ObjectivesOn 14 October 2004, The Health Boards Executive (HeBE), The Equality Authority and the NationalCouncil on Ageing and Older People (NCAOP) jointly hosted a conference in the Shelbourne Hotel,Dublin, entitled From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges. The aims of the conferencewere to promote a greater understanding of ageism in Irish society and to explore the problems ofprejudice, stereotyping and discrimination as they affect older people. It formed part of a widerageism awareness campaign that took place from 4-18 October 2004, called Say No to Ageism.The conference objectives were:to present the findings from recent research studies on ageism in Irelandto consider lessons from the English experience of tackling age discrimination in health and socialcare servicesto identify priorities in addressing age discrimination in Europe and Ireland2to inform recommendations on age equality, access and quality of service provision for olderpeople to be developed by the NCAOP.Conference ProceedingsThe structure of these proceedings follows the format of the conference, beginning with the OpeningAddresses by Karen Erwin and Sylvia Meehan. The conference presentations took place over threesessions.The Opening Session included presentations on:defining ageismageism and attitudes to older people in the Republic of Irelandageism in the health and social services sector in Ireland.The Second Session comprised presentations on the UK experience:rooting out age discrimination in the NHS and social care servicesauditing age discrimination in health and social care.Conference Proceedings
Presentations in the Final Session focused on:the status of age equality and non-discrimination in the EUimplementing equality for older people in Ireland.Conference OutcomesA number of key issues and challenges emerged from the conference presentations and discussionsessions.Ageism ExistsPerhaps the most fundamental finding that emerged from several papers, including those of LorettaCrawley, Síle O’Connor and Eileen McGlone, is that ageism and age discrimination exist. They areembedded in our culture and attitudes. Everyone is responsible and tackling ageism is an issue forsociety as a whole.Prompt ActionIt was clear from the conference that the time to act is now. This message emerged strongly fromseveral papers and through comments made by delegates during the discussion sessions.We know that we are living in an ageing society. While there are many reasons to act now, asRichard Baker showed in his paper, it is the economic and social impact of an ageing society that hasdriven the EU to take action on age discrimination. ‘If we fail to act now, then more of us are goingto be affected by ageism, and the more of us are affected, the greater the impact on our society’(Baker).3Building AwarenessBoth Craig Muir and Ros Levenson’s papers highlighted the fact that the first stage in tackling ageismis to acknowledge its existence and build awareness of it; people must understand and be able torecognise what ageism is and what it does.We saw, however, that many people find it difficult to identify ageism. Ros Levenson noted this in herpaper and it also emerged from the research findings presented by both Eileen McGlone and SíleO’Connor. The message was simple: ageism cannot be eliminated without raising awareness of whatit is and how it works. It is necessary to demonstrate what it means for individuals to be ageist andfor institutions or organisations to discriminate on the grounds of age.Why Ageism Must Be EliminatedMany reasons were offered during the conference that amply explained the importance of eliminatingageism. Age discrimination erodes the values we espouse for our society, as well as for our healthand social services. It is, in fact, the antithesis of these values: it devalues and excludes people;From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges
Page 1 and 2: From Ageism to Age Equality:Address
Page 5: Introduction1
Page 9: membership of the Traveller communi
Page 12 and 13: Opening Address (1)Karen Erwin, Cha
Page 14 and 15: Opening Address (2)Sylvia Meehan, B
Page 16 and 17: What is Ageism?Loretta Crawley,Scho
Page 18 and 19: Marginalisation is very often the r
Page 20 and 21: Ageism and Attitudes toOlder People
Page 22 and 23: Table 2: Perceptions of how one is
Page 24 and 25: Fear of crime was identified by ove
Page 26 and 27: Table 7: Forms of less favourable t
Page 28 and 29: Just 4 per cent of respondents aged
Page 30 and 31: Table 14: Personal preferences for
Page 32 and 33: Attitudes Towards Older PeopleTable
Page 34 and 35: Table 18: Responses to Scenario Two
Page 36 and 37: Overall, the data suggests a need a
Page 38 and 39: Postal Survey of AttitudesWe conduc
Page 40 and 41: administration and management perso
Page 42 and 43: Screening and Preventative Services
Page 44 and 45: ConclusionsThe broad aim of health
Page 46 and 47: 42Conference Proceedings
Page 48 and 49: Rooting Out AgeDiscrimination in th
Page 50 and 51: Training EventsTraining events on a
Page 52 and 53: Guide to Auditing Age Discriminatio
Page 54 and 55: Effective Involvement of Older Peop
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Combating Age Discrimination 9Liste
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54Conference Proceedings
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The Status of Age Equality andNon-D
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equired to have adopted the two Dir
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necessary to promote awareness of i
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Implementing Equality forOlder Peop
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Provision of Goods, Services, Educa
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Such an exercise, often quite simpl
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developed as an integral part of eq
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Older people who internalise pejora
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When considering the implementation
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Richard BakerRichard chairs the ant
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Síle O’ConnorSíle O’Connor ha
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NCAOPThe National Council on Ageing
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The Equality AuthorityThe Equality
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