In 2008, ARK carried out survey research on public attitudes to age and ageing in the North and South of Ireland.  This project mostly replicated work undertaken in 2003.  The 2003  findings provided an important baseline of attitudes and perceptions and the 2008 surveys allowed us  to assess if, and how, attitudes have changed taking into account policy and legislative changes, as well as the potential impact of campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of the issues facing older people.  Topics covered in the surveys include perception of the contribution made by older people, whether people are treated with more or less respect as they get older and how older people are treated in comparison with the rest of the population.  The adequacy of pension provision and financial provision by the state more generally is explored.  The surveys also look at  perceptions of discrimination against older people in relation to employment, health and financial services.  The results show some distinct shifts in attitude since the questions were first asked in 2003.  Both the 2003 and 2008 projects were funded by The  Atlantic Philanthropies.

 

Publications related to the 2008 surveys are:

Tables of results, questionnaires and datasets relating to this project can be found within the Surveys Online (SOL) section of ARK – under the heading ‘Age and Ageing’.