10th anniversary of the All Party Group on Ageing and Older People

The All Party Group on Ageing and Older People celebrated it’s 10th birthday at it’s most recent meeting in Parliament Buildings. Started in May 2015 by Independent MLA Claire Sugden, the group is supported by Age NI. All Party Groups are an important way for individuals, civil society organisations and public bodies to meet directly with MLAs and influence their work in Stormont. Over the years, this groups has dealt with issues like access to health and social care, cuts to welfare benefits affecting older people, loneliness, the Active Ageing strategy and building age-friendly communities.

Current and former members came to the meeting to mark this important milestone as well as to listen to a panel of speakers on the subject of housing. There were presentations from council Age Friendly officers, the NI Federation of Housing Associations, The Chartered Institute of Housing and Co-ownership, exploring housing options available for older people. The meeting also discussed how government should be planning for housing that can support our ageing population.

Members and stakeholders alike paid tribute to chair Claire Sugden's commitment to older people’s issues over the last decade.