Pensioners Parliament

Age NI is excited to announce that the Age NI Pensioners’ Parliament event will take place on Friday 17 September 2021 in the NI Assembly Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Stormont.

 

The Age NI Pensioners’ Parliament will see older people from all over Northern Ireland asking questions to key NI Assembly Ministers from the Department of Health, Department for Communities, The Executive Office of the Assembly and the Department of Infrastructure.  It can be viewed live on https://niassembly.tv at 2pm on Friday 17 September.

 

The event is kindly being hosted by the Speaker of the NI Assembly, Alex Maskey MLA, as part of the Northern Ireland Centenary programme of events.

 

The Pensioners’ Parliament has been informed by Age NI’s Lived Experience 2021 survey which was conducted earlier this year.

 

In the survey, Age NI heard directly from more than 750 older people on topics ranging from health and social care to TV licences, from loneliness to bus passes, from pensions and end-of-life care to digital inclusion: everything that is important to living well and supporting independence in later life. 

 

Dr Paschal McKeown, Charity Director of Age NI said, “There’s no doubt that COVID has shone a spotlight on older people, particularly with regard to health and social care, but this report has revealed many other day-to-day matters which become major barriers to older people if they’re not properly thought through or considered. 

 

“By 2028, the over 65’s will make up 20% of our whole population – a greater proportion of our population than under 15’s for the first time.  With an ageing population, we need policies and structure in place which add life to years now, not just years to life. This will need a dramatic shift in attitude and attention from our decision – and policy-makers and society in general.

 

“Older people want to be involved in decisions that affect their life, to be able to access the help and support they need to stay well and live as independently as possible, and to be protected from ageist attitudes and discrimination.

 

“We are looking forward to kick-starting this important conversation in the Assembly Chamber on 17 September, when older people will have the opportunity to use their voice and – crucially – to receive meaningful responses from our political decision-makers on the issues that matter most to them.  We are very grateful to the Speaker, Alex Maskey, for this important opportunity.”