Developing a healthy ageing policy for Ireland: the view from below

There is a healthy ageing programme in a place in Ireland since 1998. However, there has never been a systematic review of healthy ageing policy in the country or of the impact of the new programme on the sector. This paper uses both a quantitative and qualitative survey methodology to elicit the views of participants and stakeholders on current policy and future priorities for healthy ageing in Ireland. The data are based on extensive consultation with stakeholders in the field of healthy ageing and adheres to a participative model of research in keeping with best practice in health promotion investigation. New information is provided on the nature and structure of healthy ageing activity in the country and on the major issues for stakeholders in respect of resource allocation, priorities and best practice. The results suggest that current policy needs to be recalibrated in favour of greater public support for projects in the social environment. Overall funding also needs to be increased for the sector and genuine partnerships between policy-makers and older people need to be established. Finally, the paper reports a worrying concern among stakeholders of the deleterious effect of ageism on the participation of older people at all levels of society.