Background

• By 2030, one in five people resident in Ireland will be 65 years or older.
• The greatest increase will be in the over 80's
• Of female children born today, over 50% are likely to survive to age 100 or beyond

One of the great success stories of modern times is the increasing number of people living into old age. However, this triumph is also one of our greatest challenges. It is projected that the proportion of the population aged 65 and older in Ireland will rise to 15% by 2011 and to 19% by 2031 (DOH 1999). The greatest increase will be in the oldest old, the over 80's, which is expected to rise by 66% by 2035 (Fahey 1995). Ageing on this scale is an unprecedented phenomenon in Irish history.

The Irish situation is particularly challenging as Ireland has one of the lowest life expectancy rates in Europe. The health, social, economic, environmental and genetic factors which contribute to such a strikingly higher mortality are as of yet unknown. Our older people are amongst the least healthy in Europe and the proportion of older Irish people living in income poverty (40%) is the highest in the EU 15.

In stark contrast to the evident importance of ageing, there is a lack of social, economic and health information on older persons in Ireland. This is essential to enable forward planning and to ensure a 'healthy and happy' life span in later life.

Ireland is now in an ideal position to prepare for successful population ageing and to ensure that some of the lessons learned in societies that aged at an earlier stage are taken on board here - but to do this we urgently require accurate and representative health and socio-economic data.