Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

255. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to update the National Positive Aging Strategy given that it has not been updated in over eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51511/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Positive Ageing Strategy is a high level document outlining Ireland’s vision for ageing and older people and the national goals and objectives required to promote positive ageing. It is an over-arching cross-departmental policy that has influenced policy and service delivery across Government since inception.

Significant developments have been, and continue to be, made in promoting positive ageing since the Strategy launched in 2013.  In relation to the Programme for Government commitment to an age friendly Ireland progress is being made on commitments to increase home and community supports and housing options for older people. In particular, Sláintecare which envisages older people being supported to live well in their own homes for as long as possible sets out an overarching vision for care in our community and enabling older people to live longer at home. New projects such as the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, the establishment of a Statutory Home Support Scheme, Integrated Care Packages for Older People (ICPOP) are just some examples of the progress we are making across government, agencies and with stakeholders in the community to increase the positive experience of ageing. The establishment of Age Friendly Ireland as a shared service for older people nationally is a further significant achievement.

Since the National Positive Ageing Strategy my Department has developed a significant body of research to inform an evidence based approach to policy making for older people in partnership with the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) and the research initiative set up on foot of the Positive Ageing Strategy i.e. HaPAI. 

Across Government we will continue to prioritise improvements for older people in Ireland by focusing on the effective implementation and delivery of outcomes envisaged in Sláintecare, Housing For All and other focused strategies such as the National Dementia Strategy.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

256. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether nutrition and hydration plays an important role in positive aging; if so, if he will commit to the inclusion of nutrition and hydration going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51512/21]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Positive aging is an issue I am very interested in and for that reason, I requested the Food Safety Authority of Ireland ("FSAI") Scientific Committee to prepare a report on the Scientific Recommendations for Food- Based Dietary Guidelines for older people aged 65 and over. Hydration is also included in these recommendations which were published earlier this year. Healthy Ireland in my Department are developing nutrition resources (including advice on hydration) for this age group based on the FSAI scientific recommendations.  These resources will be available early in 2022.