Older Person Research in Ireland

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Irelandhas rapidly changing demographics. The 2006 Irish Census indicated that there was 468,000 people aged 65 or over resident in the country. By 2021 this is projected to rise to approximately 751,000 or 16% of the population. Allied with these figures is the estimation that dependency rates among the elderly population will also grow sharply to 52.8% in 2021. In relation to dependency, Barry indicates that older people in Ireland would prefer to live and be supported in their own homes. The resultant outcome of this is the need for quality and integrated community, health and social care services. A further outcome of home and community based care is that many older people experience care provided by family or neighbors. In Ireland more needs to be known about all types of community care for older people.

Two studies completed through CARDI will be used to highlight the wide spectrum of medical, physical and social research being undertaken with older people populations in Ireland.First, according to Scarlett et al. older people in Northern Ireland are up to three times more likely to be frail than those in the Republic of Ireland. Furthermore, this study found that females and those from lower socio economic groups were more likely to be frail than those in the general older person population. Among people aged 60-64, the rates of limiting disability range from 43% in Northern Ireland to 25% in the Republic of Ireland [3]. In the 80 years plus age group, Northern Ireland has a 54% rate of limiting disability whilst in the Republic of Ireland this figure is 29%. This research also showed that the prevalence of frailty rises with age, for example, in Northern Ireland 16% of people aged 60-64 are frail whilst in the Republic of Ireland this figure is 3%. These researchers conclude that the reasons for differences in North and South data in frailty merit further investigation and discussion.

Research by Parsons et al. examined medication use in people with dementia at end of life. This study was carried out within the context that there are currently around 41,740 people with dementia in the Republic of Ireland, with the numbers expected to grow to between 141,000 and 147,000 by 2041. Approximately 19,000 people have dementia in Northern Ireland. It is expected there will be 23,000 people with dementia by 2017 and 60,000 by 2051 in Northern Ireland.