The Ageing with Dignity Seminar was a great sucess, and was conducted in a very relaxed and calm professional manner. This did not just happen, it was due to largely to the trojan work of Margaret Lyon, our Peace III Network Development Officer, who along with our adminstrator Barabara Barnett, with the assistance of Majella Willson, ensured the event ran as smoothly as it did.
Thank you on belhalf of all concerned.

On the 22nd of July, the Voice of Older People, Donegal, in partnership with the Donegal County Council Peace III Partnership held a creative seminar on Ageing with Dignity. The event was attended by people from throughout the County, and those present participated fully in the event. Voice of Older People Co-ordinator, Mark McCollum, stated “that it was the groups idea to have as active and engaging event as possible, that everyone present would actively be engaged with the presenters and each other, and that it would be a break from the passive “sit and listen” style of events”.



The seminar lived up to and surpassed its expectations in this regard, it commenced with a jovial, warm and convivial welcoming introduction by the Chairperson of the Voice of Older People, Donegal, John McGlinchey.



This was followed by a active demonstration of the ‘Go for Life’, physical activity programme, by Patricia Swann, after which everyone present was truly awake.



The key note address was given by renowned local writer, commentator and activist, Brian Smeaton. Brian spoke generally on the topic of advocacy, but related it back to the vital importance of ‘listening’ a diminishing art; listening to ourselves, to each other. He posed questions to people about the positives aspects and the challenges of ageing, and encouraged a ‘dialogue’ within room, he viewed this process of ‘dialogue and listening’ as the starting point for change, he spoke passionately and eloquently, and with a gently fluidity wove a narrative from personal and shared experiences, through to a community context and beyond around the importance of change all connected by listening... truly listening. His talk was impassioned and extremely moving, and resonated deeply with all those present.



The day also had active workshops, in which people contributed their thought and ideas around what ageing with dignity represented to them. Questions and challenges were posed to everyone, including for example; what did they feel was the most important elements in growing older, and what were the real challenges that had to be faced; and every single person contributed their response, again in an active fun and engaging way.



In the afternoon, Orla Hasson from , Director with Big Telly Theatre Company, gave a comprehensive overview of The Spring Chickens Program, and innovative theatre and drama programme for older people, which is running throughout Northern Ireland, but has considerable potential to be brought across the border. Orla gave an active demonstration of Image theatre, which again had the whole room engaged. There were images of the positive and the negative elements of ageing, and those self imposed labels and those labels that society impose upon older people. “we have to move from being the ‘dinosaurs’ to taking on the ‘catwalk with pride’”



In summary the goal of the Seminar was to explore the process of ageing in modern Ireland, and to examine in creative ways what people felt were the important element s in this process, and also to provide examples or tasters of what and could be achieved, and also and more importantly in many respects to let people talk and listen and learn from each other. To this end the seminar was a resounding success, and the debate and discourse this event inspired has provided much upon which the Voice of Older People Donegal hopes to build on and develop in the near future.

The Voice of Older People, Donegal is very concerned to hear that a recommendation in the Local Government Efficiency Review Group report will directly penalise those sections of society who do not use the online motor tax facility to renew their car tax.

This recommendation seems fails to recognize that one of the main reasons people, including many older people, do not use this service is that they do not have computer skills, do not have access to a computer, or do not have access to reliable broad band service.

The proposal that recommends the introduction of a ‘levy’ for motorists who pay their motor tax by post or in person, would again hit older motorists hardest.

The fact is that in the region of 80% of over-65s in Ireland are not computer literate and therefore would be one of the largest groups who would be penalised by this levy, if this ill-conceived recommendation were to be implemented into law. It appears that this is again a further erosion of the services for older people, particularly those living in rural areas such as Donegal. The renewing of ones motor tax has to be done by law, and to penalise people for not being in a position to do so in a particular manner seems callous; furthermore, the act of renewing motor tax in person, provides many people in rural areas with a social outlet, a reason to get out of the house and meet people, this fact seems to have been overlooked.

It also appears that the funding available for training for older people in basic computer skills is being reduced, how can this be viewed by anyone as fair.

Donegal, a County, who’s tagline in terms of tourism is that “its different up here” is certainly living up to that statement in other areas; we have no rail network, very weak public transport network and an equally poor world wide web communications network, but we are expected to pay our tax’s and do so “on-line”. This has to change.

In-conclusion, the Voice of Older People, Donegal is urging Environment Minister John Gormley, and all politicians, form all parties, not to implement this ill-conceived , recommendation until we reach a point where adequate computer training has been provided, and proper broad band cover is available throughout the Country including rural areas of Donegal

Posted: 16/Jul 13:26
Last Updated: 16/Jul 15:16

The Voice of Older People Donegal say they believe the government will not reduce the pension in December’s budget.

There has been wide scale speculation that the government will either cut or means test the pension with a view to helping address the country’s current financial hardship.

But V.O.P Donegal says that is very unlikely.

Spokesperson Mark McCollum says such a move would be the end of the government

to hear the interview go clik on:

http://www.highlandradio.com/2010/07/16/voice-of-older-people-donegal-believe-government-will-not-cut-pension/

Calls for the pension not to be reduced in December’s budget were made by three groups representing older people yesterday.

They argued that pensioners had already experienced income and service cuts and such a move would place more older people below the poverty line.

Income reductions already experienced by older people included the loss of the Christmas bonus, dental benefit and optical benefit, as well as the introduction of prescription charges and increased fuel costs, said Mair�ad Hayes, chief executive of the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament


Many older people were “hovering around the poverty line” with one in 10 pensioners living in poverty, Eamon Timmins, head of advocacy at Age Action, said.

Despite a public perception that older people had escaped cuts “nothing could be further from the truth”, he added.

Recent service reductions which have made life more challenging for older people included rationing of home help and meals on wheels as well as the cessation of local authority home adaptation and mobility grants, he said.

Increases to the State pension since 2001 were just playing catch-up, said Patricia Conboy, director of the Older and Bolder campaign. Reductions in the cost of living were largely based on lower housing costs which was “not widely relevant to older people . . . In the areas that do affect them, costs have been increasing.” The inequity of private pension tax relief might be a more appropriate focus for analysis, she added.