ABOUT

Among the original objectives of the AWN was the development of a series of Position Papers. These position papers were linked to the framework created to identify and communicate the key issues of concern regarding older people’s lives - the Ageing Well Model. 

The model is based on achieving six key outcomes in “an Ireland that is a great country to grow old in and in which older people can”...

1. Enjoy an adequate income, free from the fear of poverty
2. Live in a place that feels like home
3. Participate as valued members of their own communities
4. Have access to a good health service responsive to their needs
5. Live in age friendly communities
6. Benefit from policies and plans informed by their needs and reliable research

Each of the six elements of the model established the structure for the series of position papers developed by the AWN. The objective of the papers was to;

1. inform the National Positive Ageing Strategy, a commitment of the most recent Programme for Government.
2. inform the policies and plans of all the members of the network.
3. foster alignment between the policies and plans at national and organisational level
4. encourage innovation and adoption of more effective approaches among all the members of the network

In order to adequately represent the disparate views of the many network members it was intended that the position papers would not advocate for any one approach but rather would identify and review the current situation and then propose possible options for dealing with issues identified.

To develop these papers a series of specialist Working Groups were set up from among the members. Three working group meetings took place with members of the network throughout 2009 and 2010 and the final report was presented to the Residential meeting of the Network in June 2010.

The network has now completed work on the two main documents – Key Issues and Options, which was submitted as the contribution of the AWN to the Positive Ageing Strategy. This in turn is a summary of a larger, more detailed and fully referenced document, ‘The New Ageing Agenda’, which was also completed during this period. 

‘The New Ageing Agenda’ sets out the current context of ageing in Ireland  -summarizing policies and plans, providing data on the current situation, as well as outlining the findings from literature on best practice internationally and nationally.