The most ambitious study of ageing ever undertaken in
Ireland was launched in Trinity College Dublin today by the Minister for
Health and Children Mary Harney TD.
The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) is being made possible
through a €4 million research donation from Irish Life. This is the
single largest donation ever made to research by a corporate body in
Ireland. The Atlantic Philanthropies has also contributed to the
research endeavour.
Speaking at the launch, RoseAnne Kenny, TCD Professor of Geriatric
Medicine and Principal Investigator of TILDA, said: “The experience of
ageing in Ireland is not a particularly happy one. We know that our
older people are amongst the least healthy in Europe and that the
proportion of older Irish people living in income poverty (40%) is
highest in the EU 15. The percentage of older Irish people in receipt of
community care supports is among the lowest in the OECD. We need to know
why this is and what needs to be done to develop the best models of care
for our older citizens”.
Of female children born today, over 50% will live to age 100 or beyond.
By 2030 one in four Irish people will be over 65 years of age; with the
greatest increase being in those over 80 years of age. Ageing on this
scale is unprecedented in Ireland and has significant consequences for
Irish society from an economic, social and policy perspective.
The TILDA study, which is being led by Trinity College, is a
cross-institutional study will provide a detailed and comprehensive
picture of the lives of over 10,000 people charting their health, social
and economic circumstances as they age over at least a 10 year period. A
pilot study will be starting early next year and the full study will
commence in September 2007.
The information gathered will be invaluable to policy makers and
practitioners in the areas of health, social care, transport and
pensions, as well as for the voluntary sector, business and service
industries.
Mr. Donal Casey, Chief Executive of Irish Life Corporate Business said;
“The information gleaned by the TILDA study will ensure that Ireland is
a place where older people are valued and supported in a real and
tangible way. The study will also provide research insights that will
help our own business serve older people better. Irish Life is delighted
to be able to make a corporate donation of this scale to the TILDA
project. It is our way of meaningfully contributing to a society in
which our customers live and work. Our long term support of this
ambitious and nationally important study, over the next 10 years,
reinforces our commitment to help people create a better future in
retirement."
TILDA will
• provide up to date information which will drive reform of the health
and social services;
• lead to new research and discoveries about the factors which enable
successful ageing
• contribute to research on new treatments for age related diseases such
as dementia, heart disease, stroke and
• help to ensure a comfortable living standard for people in old age
• influence public perceptions on ageing
• contribute to developing best models of care for older citizens
TILDA represents a united inter-institutional collaboration by Irish
academics. In addition to Trinity College, the partners include; Dundalk
Institute of Technology, the ESRI, National University of Ireland
Galway, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College
Cork, University College Dublin. Together these institutions will
champion a major initiative to support successful ageing in a real and
tangible way.
A scientifically representative sample of over 10,000 persons will be
invited to participate in the survey and they will be followed up
frequently over at least 10 years. Participation in the study will be
voluntary and the highest standards of confidentiality will be applied.
The study will cost at least €10 million to complete and additional
funding will be sought from relevant public and philanthropic sources.
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