Positive Ageing Week 2015 Enters its Teens & Focuses on the Importance of Older People
In its thirteenth year, Positive Ageing Week 2015 will continue to bring communities together to celebrate ageing and make Ireland the best place to grow old. Organised by Age Action Ireland, Positive Ageing Week marks the UN International Day of Older Persons on October 1st and highlights the positive aspects of ageing, while celebrating the contribution older people have made and continue to make to their communities.
The theme for UN International Day of Older Persons in 2015 is ‘Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment’. A view into the future, the theme will focus on the impact of the new urban environment on older persons and vice versa. As people flock to cities at an alarming pace, the UN estimates 6 out of 10 people will live in an urban area by 2030, with those over 60 years of age reaching 900 million by 2050, a quarter of the total urban population in developing countries. This year’s event is in anticipation of the third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) to be held in 2016.
To mark the importance of older people in Ireland, thousands of events will take place across the country to celebrate Positive Ageing Week. The events are far reaching and range from historical and forest walks to coffee mornings. In addition, twelve towns will act as Positive Ageing Week Towns, an initiative run by a local committee comprised of representatives from older people’s groups and voluntary organisations supported by a Town Council. While Age Action organises a number of events, the majority are organised by active retirement groups, local voluntary groups, nursing homes, libraries, commercial organisations and older people themselves.
As always, Right at Home supports the UN inspired week-long event and encourages any initiative that promotes and highlights older people in society. To view a calendar of events or get involved as a franchise visit Age Action’s website or for further information on the 2015 UN theme read more on the United Nation’s section on Ageing.
