Publisher:
Economic and Social Research Institute Ireland
Date published:
24 January, 2011
Author:
Richard Layte
Region:
Republic of Ireland
Life expectancy for older people in Ireland has been increasing steadily since the 1980s. Despite this, Irish life expectancies for the over 65s lagged seriously behind the EU average as recently as the mid 1990s. But Irish death rates for the over 65s dropped dramatically between 2000 and 2005, moving Ireland closer to the European average. Whereas between 1996 and 1999 death rates (from all causes) in Ireland had fallen by just over 5%, between 2000 and 2004 the decrease was over 26%. What lies behind this rare and welcome good news story? An article by researchers from the ESRI and the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Trinity College Dublin sets out the background to this sharp fall in death rates, and examines how the greater use of effective drug therapies contributed to this result.

The fall in mortality was particularly pronounced for diseases of the circulatory system such as heart disease and strokes where there was a 30% reduction between 2000 and 2005. This was an extraordinary development that, if sustained, had huge implications for the provision of services to older Irish people such as pensions and health care. Looking around for clues some noticed that the fall in the rate of deaths was particularly pronounced in the winter months.

Ireland sees 21% more deaths in the depths of winter than in high summer (almost twice the Danish proportion), largely from the interaction of low temperature with existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions so analysts initially looked to global warming for an explanation. Analysis of weather trends showed no warming during recent winters so what could explain the drop in death rates

CARDI
Date published:
18 November, 2010
Region:
Republic of Ireland
Northern Ireland

The Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) is delighted to launch a new publication entitled A Picture of Ageing Research.
This pioneering publication provides a snapshot of major academic research into ageing currently being undertaken across the island of Ireland.
The publication is available at the following link: A Picture of Ageing Research
With entries from 15 of the leading academic institutions and an overview of some of the major collaborative research projects currently underway, it illustrates the breadth and quality of work by researchers in a wide range of disciplines relating to ageing in Ireland, North and South and the significant role research has in planning for all our futures.
Printed copies may be requested by emailing info@cardi.ie or calling 0044 (0) 28 90690066

By Anne Lucey and Jennifer Hough

INCREASING isolation and the closure of traditional meeting places has been blamed for the rising number of suicides among elderly people.

Pointing to newly released suicide figures from south Kerry, the coroner, solicitor Terence Casey, said the worrying trend had been particularly noticeable since 2005.

The warning comes after the Offaly County Coroner warned earlier this week that suicide is now "rampant" in rural society.

Figures from the Offaly office and provisional figures from the coroner in Clare highlighted a growth in the number of suicides in both counties.

Mr Casey said the common perception that suicide was something that occurred mainly among the young had been turned on its head in recent years.

In the past five years, he said, older age groups made up the highest numbers of suicides in the south Kerry region, which includes the wider Killarney, Caherciveen, Kenmare and Killorglin areas.

Mr Casey said it was important society asked why the trend was changing.

Separately, suicide awareness campaigner Shane Maher said the issue of post-retirement suicide needed to be addressed across the country.

The head of the Campaign Against Suicide, Mr Maher has been lobbying for a drop-in centre to be opened in Limerick city for people who are suicidal.

"People lose their sense of purpose; their routine changes and they can become isolated. It is a sudden jolt," Mr Maher said.

"Sudden withdrawal from occupation, routine and work colleagues, which can sometimes be accompanied by the death of a spouse, can be devastating. We propose the introduction of retirement clubs and job sharing post-60 to address suicide post-retirement."

According to figures released by the south Kerry coroner, four of the 12 people who took their own lives in 2005 were over the age of 60; four were between the ages of 30-50; three in the 20-30 age group and one under 20.

Similarly, in the years since, seven of the nine suicides in 2006 were over the age of 40.

Four of the seven suicides in south Kerry in 2008 were over 50 and two of these were aged over 60. In 2009, four of the 13 suicides were aged 60 and over; three in the 40-50 age group and two aged over 30.

Provisional figures for 2010 showed eight verdicts of suicide were returned. Three of the dead were people aged 50 to 60.

The overall figure is likely to increase as all of the 2010 inquests have yet to be held, Mr Casey said.

"The age profile is changing to older people," the south Kerry coroner said, describing the suicide issue in the county and elsewhere as "extremely complex".

Mr Casey also urged people to talk about their problems and suggested most of the suicides were in rural parts of the county where meeting places like the local pub and the creamery no longer existed and the mail was left at collection points rather than the post office.

"There is a gap in social life in rural Ireland. We have to question the suicide trend in the older age groups," Mr Casey said.

Earlier this week, figures from the Offaly County Coroner’s office and provisional figures from the coroner in Clare highlighted a growth in the number of suicides in both counties.

The latest published figures for suicide in this country produced by the Central Statistics Office show that there were 527 cases, up from 424 the previous year.

An additional 195 "deaths by undetermined intent" were recorded.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.ie/home/rise-in-suicides-among-elderly-people-143530.html#ixzz1CKNYZ5MG

We, at the Voice of Older People, are committed to protecting older people in Donegal; the Voice of Older People has to be heard by those in power, and those who wish to be in power. The spectre of the continued erosion of services for older people and of simple poverty looms large and very real.
In the forthcoming imminent election it is important that a concrete message is sent to the candidates, and it is vital that older people be protected from the worst of the cuts, the state pension, health services, household packages and transport services may be in the firing line. The older people of Donegal must be protected so that they can continue to live with dignity in their homes, secure and warm.
But despite the images which are often portrayed in the media, older people are not helpless, they have tremendous power, which must be mobilised to ‘make change happen’. We would encourage older people to use your vote; enough is enough’; Older people are entitled to and deserve to be treated well by the state as they have paid tax and social insurance throughout their working lives. So Lobby NOW; lobby all politicians, and ‘wannabe’ politicians’ who come knocking at your door, Ministers, T.D’s and senators from all parties and independents. Go to the ‘Clinics’ held by public representatives or arrange a meeting with them; use the media, phone-in radio shows, write to them and let them know your opinions. And ask them one simple question; ‘will they defend the rights and entitlements of older people in Donegal?’
Use your Voice, Use Your Vote, There is a better, fairer way

When the government presented the much lauded and long awaited and ‘innocently named’ - National Recover Plan 2011 to 2014, which was followed up by the austerity budget which has been shown to have had a disproportionate impact on the average citizen as a result of the retrograde and unimaginative measures contained within these turgid documents. There is a saying “if you do what you always do, you get what you always get”, and that is the path that the Government seem to be intent on pursuing, there is a complete disconnection from the vast majority of politicians and general population, there is an arrogance that is bordering on contempt for the citizens of Ireland.
Basically, overall, the Voice of Older People fears that the combined impact of the ‘austerity’ measures set out in this alleged ‘recovery plan’ and budget mean that the poorest pensioners and vulnerable people will be the hardest hit.