GROWING up as the youngest of 11 siblings, Northern Ireland’s new Commissioner for Older People has said the happiness of ageing family members has always been close to her heart.
Appointed to a four-year term in March, Siobhan Casey (62) spoke to the Irish News about the early influence of having older parents, the injustice of workplace ageism and a “broken” social care system that fails to meet the needs of an ageing population.
She also addressed the difficulty of controversial topics such as assisted dying and older drivers.
“I was born to parents who were in their mid-50s and mid-40s, so I was the youngest of a larger family,” she said of her childhood in the Rosemount area of Derry.
“So I’ve always been very cognisant of older people and older age, particularly in relation to my parents.
Her father died aged 86 with dementia.
“I often say I wish I’d known then what I know now about supporting someone with dementia.”
This includes accessing the right support from organisations working with older people, as well as encouraging older family and neighbours to get the help they are entitled to.
Still getting used to her new office in Equality House which enjoys an elevated view over Botanic Avenue, she adds: “It’s a role that I’ve sought after and I’m really honoured and privileged to have been given the opportunity to represent older people in Northern Ireland and to safeguard and promote their interests.”
Having previously spent 15 years with Age NI, she said her initial months in the job will be about listening to the experiences of older people on issues ranging from waiting lists to poverty and isolation.
With Stormont now restored for more than a year, she said older people are still not getting the attention they deserve.
“Despite a lot of pressure and consultation, we didn’t achieve the outcomes for older people in the programme for government, but I’m hopeful that will change over the next couple of years,” she said.
“I’m also encouraged by the fact that there’s an all-party agreement on planning for an ageing society, we’re looking at things like a loneliness strategy.
“There’s a private members bill coming forward on age discrimination in goods facilities and services – because Northern Ireland’s the only place where older people can experience age discrimination in those areas.”
She is also keen to progress the long-awaited Adult Safeguarding Bill, which protects care home residents and other vulnerable adults.
With frequent stories about older people stuck in hospital beds with nowhere for them to be discharged, Ms Casey says this has been a “constant topic” throughout her career.
“It would be fair enough to say that our social care system here is broken,” she said.
“There is a need to address this, but it’s not about reports and recommendations anymore, it’s about taking action.
“We need more care packages, more care home beds, more support for older people to live independently and stay at home.”
Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland Siobhan Casey. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
On the emotive issue of assisted dying, Ms Casey said the debate has only started in Northern Ireland.
“Assisted dying is something that has become more topical. It’s important to recognise that this is a deeply sensitive and a very divisive subject,” she said.
“From the point of view of the older people’s commissioner, what we will be doing is listening to peoples’ voices from that on all sides.”
Asked about safety concerns with older drivers, she warns against a heavy-handed approach.
“It’s a very sensitive subject, and my sympathies go out to the people that have been involved in these accidents,” she said.
“However, I think it’s important for us all to remember that driving is about ability not age.
“So, I think the idea of testing older drivers could be seen as discriminatory.”
With the proportion of older people in Northern Ireland to reach one in four by 2040, Ms Casey said ageism in the workplace must be challenged.
“Longer term…there’ll be less people contributing economically into the budget.
“So it’s important where people want to stay in work longer, that is supported. We absolutely need older people in the workforce and we need that intergenerational learning.”
While the population is living longer, Ms Casey said there also remained a “stark inequality” for older people’s health in deprived areas
“It’s about equality really. That older people living in areas of high deprivation get the opportunity to live healthier lives,” she said.
Technically considered an older person herself, Ms Casey said she understood the value of staying active and keeping up social connections to delay health issues like dementia.
“I have two dogs so I walk them quite a lot and I do a bit of sea swimming,” she said of her own routine.
“I’ve done it for about 30 years now in Donegal and Co Down, just wherever I can.
“It’s just a couple of friends and we set the challenge to try and do it 12 months a year, so we’ve succeeded so far.”