Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care ...

5.7.2 Increasing the Visibility of Older PeopleParticipants suggested that there was a need to lobby others to ensure thatolder people’s services were given the same emphasis and recognition as othervulnerable groups in society such as people with disabilities. Some participants feltthe lack of emphasis on older people arose from apathy and ageist attitudes. Theysuggested that ageism was a major issue both in society and in nursing. They feltthat this had a significant effect on quality of life and that a Bill of Rights for olderpeople should be developed.Participants stated that there were also particular issues related to the ethics ofcare for older people and the lack of inclusion of older people in the decision-makingprocess. They were concerned that family members may try to limit the freedom ofan ageing relative to choose. They suggested that taking informed risks was part ofliving and that older people should have the right to take calculated risks if they sochoose. Participants argued that any new policy related to older people shouldensure that older people had the right of self-determination.108Attitudes to older people: comments from focus group participantsAgeism operates right through society and into our institutions! (FG1D)There was a very interesting comment made by a group of elderly people and theycame up with this, not professionals. … They said that, when you’re in your forties orfifties and you want to join a gym, you don’t see on the headline ‘if you don’t join thegym, you’ll get a heart attack’ or ‘you’ll get old quickly’. So why should you say to me,as an old person, if you do this, you’ll fall and you’ll break your hip, and you’ll end upin casualty. So I think we’ve got to kind of … let them take the risks. (FG1D)5.7.3 ResourcesParticipants raised two important issues in relation to resources: the need forresources to be channelled into older people’s services and issues related tothe implementation of subvention regulations. Participants reported that therewas a lack of resources within their services to fund innovative initiatives or newapproaches to care provision. They suggested that older people’s services had notbeen allocated sufficient funding over a number of years and facilities and staffinghad, therefore, suffered. They suggested that there needed to be a new emphasiswithin healthcare policy and that the resources required to implement newapproaches to care provision should be allocated. They stated that communal livingwithout a private space was no longer acceptable and purpose-built units whichgave older people a room of their own were important and should be part of policy.Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care Settings in Ireland