Last week (16^th-17^th November) the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), Trinity College Dublin and Northern Ireland’s Changing Ageing Partnership co-hosted a conference entitled Becoming Visible: Older People as Active Participants in the Community and in Long-term Care Settings at Dublin Castle. The conference focussed on older adult’s important role in society and called for greater participation of older people in decision-making in communities and care-settings.

Keynote speakers included Professor James Nazroo, University of Manchester; Maev-Anne Wren, journalist; Professor Marian Barnes, University of Brighton and Eleanor Edmond, Alzheimer Society of Ireland.

All of the speakers at the conference underlined the importance of older people’s participation in decision-making, especially in relation to policies and practices that directly impact their lives.

On the first day of the conference Dr James Nazroo posed the question of who gets to enjoy the so-called “Third Age” and underlined the inequalities that exist between older people in society and how this impacts on their quality of life. He emphasised “tremendous” disparities in wealth and well-being and argued that more should be done to target lower socio-economic groups in terms of participation.

Award-winning journalist, Maev-Anne Wren spoke about the increasing phenomenon of the older carer. Using figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) she highlighted the fact that nearly half of all carers are aged between 45 and 64 years. She argued that many were under pressure, caring for over 57 hours a week and in need of assistance. She said that most do not want to give up their caring role but so need support.

Eleanor Edmond, Alzheimer Society of Ireland also underlined the need to pay attention to communication barriers in relation to older people, especially those with dementia. She said ageism made it hard for older people’s voices to be heard but it was even harder for those with dementia:

“Stigma about dementia means that a person with dementia is less likely to speak up and their listeners are more likely to assume that what they have to say is unreliable,” she said.