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

Ireland’s population is ageing. One million people aged 60 and over now live on the island of Ireland. Today in Ireland older people make up 11.1% of the population and by 2031, it is expected that this will increase to 23%. The largest increase will be in the older old; the number aged 80+ is expected to triple by the same date. But while life expectancy has increased, it is not clear that life without disability and ill health has increased to the same extent. A growing number of older people may be facing the combined effects of a decline in physical and mental function, isolation and poverty.