CARDI was invited to present information on our work to the Joint Committee on Health and Children on Tuesday 1st December at Leinster House.

Dr Roger O’Sullivan, joined by the Co-Chairs of CARDI, Professor Davis Coakley and Professor Bob Stout, outlined the challenges of an ageing population in Ireland, North and South.

Dr O’Sullivan in his presentation to Committee Members stressed the need to plan for an ageing population as the needs and contribution of older people to economies and communities, the demands they make as consumers and their expectations as citizens need to be understood and addressed effectively,

“Governments need sound, credible and informed policy focused research to help ensure that policies are able to respond to this change.” 

CARDI’s focus is to help research play its part by bringing together the research community and relevant players from Government, the voluntary and community sectors and older people themselves to improve the quality of life for older people, now and in the future.

Professor Bob Stout stressed the need to,

“Stimulate and influence other research bodies to undertake ageing research and for more resources, as this is not a well funded area.”

Professor Coakley, in responding to a question on the development of psycharity services for older people, noted that,

“This is an area that is developing and small targeted funding can begin to solve the practical problems at local level.”
Concluding, Dr O’ Sullivan said,

“The transition of moving to an ageing society requires effective energy and resources directed towards planning. Failure to plan for changing demographics will hurt our most vulnerable in society.”
 

To view CARDI’s Briefing Paper on the work of CARDI to the Joint Committee on Health and Children click on the following link:

Briefing Paper on the work of CARDI to the Joint Committee on Health and Children