Ireland Puts A Dollar Sign In Front of 60+ Contributions To Their Economy

In the United States, we pride ourselves on many things: democracy, home and land ownership, clean water and abundant food, etc.

However, the United States is behind many other countries in our care providing for Seniors and our practical and provided services to ensure the safety and well being of our aging population -- even Ireland, a small country, with a big heart, values its aging population and cites statistics to show the benefits of the aging population.

Here's an excerpt from a great resource you should bookmark: The International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing

Northern Ireland Reports on "Appreciating Age"

On November 18, the Northern Ireland Assembly presented a report estimating £25 billion in economic contributions from people 60 and older over the next 50 years.

The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland entitled the report “Appreciating Age” and recognizes older adults as a socially vibrant and economically powerful cohort of the Ireland community. The importance of this report can be attributed to the fact that Ireland, similar to many other countries, has shown a 20% increase in people 65 and older during the past 10 years, and projects a 64% increase in adults 65+ between 2012 and 2032. As the country continues to see demographic shifts, the Assembly believes it is important to shape the conversation around aging to be positive and cognizant of the contributions older adults provide to the community.

Too often the discourse around aging is one of loss and financial burden. Ageism, which is prevalent throughout the world, isolates older adults and relegates them to that of dependents who are often ignored and invisible. In contrast, this report highlights a perspective of aging to be one of inclusion, contribution and value. Several Northern Ireland Assembly representatives reflected on this point, mentioning that the report is a step toward “challenging the one-dimensional view” of aging “by telling the untold story of the positive ways older people contribute to our society”.

The announcement of the report comes on the heels of recent whistleblower allegations regarding the management and treatment of patients in aging care homes which has spurred a review into the regulation of these care homes.

We see an economic gain in "severing ties" and expanding into separate places to live; of starting "new" lives and "cutting away" from the old ones.

As the article above states:  AGEISM is prevelant throughout the world.

Personal Opinion: It's more prevalent in "progressive economies" who value consumption or who are moving forward into a higher level of world economic standards of living. 

After all, economic status depends on purchasing: homes, food, clothing, entertainment, etc. And, multigenerational living, for example, cuts back significantly into some of the biggest ticket items -- like shelter and food. And the older population usually isn't feeding a family or building "status" through purchases of the newest, the latest, the best or the better.

As a group, we become ambivalent in many ways to the needs and to the lives of our aging men and women primarily because we are focused every day on concentrating on personal consumption and personal benefit.

It's time we realized the benefits as so clearly outlined in this article, brought about as noted by recent "whistleblower allegations" regarding the management and treatment of patients in ageing care homes.

READERS:  Are we who live in supposedly the "greatest nation on earth" going to trail behind Ireland and other countries in how we care for and ensure those who have given so much of themselves for so long to build, develop, support and protect our United States of America? 

Will we continue to sit back and wait until we have no more time to be the activators, the action makers and takers?

THE CHOICE IS IN EACH OF OUR HANDS AS TO WHAT WE ALLOW, WHAT WE DO.