Call for Basic Rights for Older People
A call for a declaration of basic rights for older people has been madeby the National Association of Widows in Ireland and the Peoples College in Dublin.
The joint document, entitled The Declaration of Older Person’s Rights for the New Millennium, is aimed at reducing marginalisation, improving standards and the provision of a ’fair pension’.
The rights listed in the declaration are:
- To be involved as contributors in the creation of social partnership schemes
- To live safe and comfortable lives in an environment shielded from violence and annoyance
- The right to have access to appropriate accommodation
- To feel proud of their age and not be marginalised because they are older persons
- To obtain a fair pension, structured to be proportioned to the prevailing average social wage, which will provide a dignity to life.
- To have access to free or low cost training schemes appropriate to current requirements in the workplace and which do not incur penalties
- To have access to quality medical care, regardless of accommodation status
- To a continuing quality of life and extended life expectancy
- To representation in all aspects of legislation affecting society.
Treated like equals...
Sheila Conroy, president of the Peoples’ College, said that hundreds of older people had contributed to the document through seminars in various parts of the country. The seminars reported a number of concerns, including a shortage of hospital beds, ward closures, a shortage of nurses to help older people who were incapacitated, hazardous boarding platforms in railway stations and poor access to public buildings for those with mobility problems.
Older people want to be treated like equals’ said Ms. Conroy. ’They should be participants in social partnership arrangements. They should be on State boards. Because we are moving to a more ageing society their voice and experience can and must be seen to make a useful contribution to all aspects of society’.
