Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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473. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the National Positive Ageing Strategy was launched on 25 April 2013 with a guarantee that an implementation plan would follow within six months; the date on which the implementation plan will be completed; the date on which the implementation plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37167/14]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The National Positive Ageing Strategy provides a vision for an age-friendly society and includes four National Goals and underpinning Objectives to provide direction on the issues that need to be addressed to promote positive ageing. The Strategy commits to the preparation of an Implementation Plan to facilitate the translation of the Goals and Objectives of the Strategy into action on the ground. Preparation of this Plan involves a wide range of Departments and agencies all of which must operate within the resources available to them. Progress is being made and the objectives of the Strategy will be progressed as soon as possible.

In parallel to the development of an implementation plan, a number of initiatives are in train to implement components of the Strategy under all four National Goals. In the area of older people’s services and supports, for example, the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is under way, the Single Assessment Tool has been developed and will be rolled out, measures are being taken to ensure integrated care for older patients, and palliative care services are being improved.

As part of the implementation process, a Healthy and Positive Ageing Outcomes Initiative has been established as a joint initiative of the Department of Health, the HSE’s Health and Wellbeing Programme and the Atlantic Philanthropies. The Initiative will run from October 2014 to December 2017, and will include the development of indicators to monitor changes in older people’s health and wellbeing at national and local level associated with the implementation of the National Positive Ageing Strategy and the Healthy Ireland Framework.