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

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Implementing <strong>Equality</strong> forOlder PeopleNiall Crowley, CEO, The <strong>Equality</strong> AuthorityIntroductionIn 2002, The <strong>Equality</strong> Authority produced a report called Implementing <strong>Equality</strong> for Older People.This report, which sets out a comprehensive equality strategy for older people, was prepared by acommittee that brought <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r organisations of older people, employers, trade unions and <strong>the</strong>state sec<strong>to</strong>r.Initially <strong>the</strong>re was some debate within <strong>the</strong> committee as <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> need for such a strategy. Argumentsagainst suggested that <strong>the</strong> diversity of older people militated against a single strategy; that anequality strategy for older people might depict older people as victims or as dependent on charity;and that a strategy was not necessary: all that was needed were a few improvements.62The debate, however, moved on and established that while older people are a diverse group <strong>the</strong>y doshare experiences and situations. Ra<strong>the</strong>r than a focus on charity it looked <strong>to</strong> a rights-based strategyand noted that <strong>the</strong>re were, in fact, significant deficits in provision for older people.In o<strong>the</strong>r words, <strong>the</strong>re was a need for a coherent and comprehensive equality strategy for olderpeople on <strong>the</strong> basis of:our emphasis as a society on <strong>the</strong> value of youth and youth culture<strong>the</strong> need <strong>to</strong> challenge ageist behaviour and attitudes<strong>the</strong> exclusion of older people due <strong>to</strong> ageism and institutional practices<strong>the</strong> need for positive action <strong>to</strong> address <strong>the</strong> needs of older people, repair a his<strong>to</strong>ry of exclusionand create conditions for full participation<strong>the</strong> importance of services for older people that enable <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> participate actively in society<strong>the</strong> particular needs of those older people who have a disability or who are in a vulnerablesituation.The Implementing <strong>Equality</strong> for Older People report provided a useful definition of ageism. <strong><strong>Age</strong>ism</strong>involves an interlinked combination of individual attitudes, institutional practices and relationships.Individual attitudes can reflect stereotypes of older people as dependent, in decline or marginal.<strong><strong>Age</strong>ism</strong> is practised not only by individuals but also by organisations. This is what is referred <strong>to</strong> as‘institutional practice’. This is manifested in a range of ways including:Conference Proceedings

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