Ireland’s First Ever Longitudinal Study on Ageing launched by Minister for Health & Children in Trinity College
Posted on: 06 November 2006
The most ambitious study of ageing ever undertaken in Ireland was launched in Trinity College Dublin on November 6th last by the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney TD.
The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) is being led by Trinity College and is being made possible through a €4 million research donation from Irish Life. The Atlantic Philantrophies 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 aging
– 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 aging
– 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 aging 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.