Since its inception, the Association has forged links with a wide variety of Agencies across Member States of the European Union including The European Foundation for the Welfare of the Elderly founded in 1946 and the more recently established AGE Platform Europe, a network of organisations of people aged fifty and over “promoting the interests of 150 million inhabitants within the European Union”. Our Directors on a regular basis participate in Conferences within the European Union and from time to time provide an Irish perspective on needs, aspirations and examples of best practice.
They join with other European Agencies in e.g. comparative studies on health and social care provision, identifying strategies aimed at bridging the gap between science and society and overcoming the absence of co-ordination in the provision of age-related services.
Here at home on an on-going basis, our Directors represent Service Users and engage in consultative processes on issues such as Information Technology, Advocacy, Elderly Abuse, the Design of Care Packages, Assistive Technology and in Research on Elderly issues currently being carried out in Universities, by the Law Reform Commission and by Government Departments, from time to time organising Focus Groups for these Agencies.
The Association networks with Faith and Community based groups and when invited to do so enters into dialogue with them, listening to their voices and updating them on current policy and practice and on research projects.
Through its quarterly Newsletter ‘Getting On’ and its networking facility the Association serves as a conduit between the membership, the wider community and older people themselves. Expressing the voice of older people, the Directors consult with and advise Policy Formulators and Service Providers on the Older Person Agenda and the preferred lifestyle choices of older citizens, the emphasis being on dignity and independence.
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