BY MARK MCKELVEY
A LOCAL Age concern campaigner has supporter calls from this charity calling on the Assembly to press ahead with a bill to make age discrimination illegal.
New research for leading charity Age Concern suggests that more than 250,000 older people in Northern Ireland think ageism should be banned.
The charity wants the assembly to put ageism on the same footing as racism and sexism.
Secretary of the Beragh Branch of Age Concern, Paddy Joe McClean has expressed his full support of these calls pressing the Northern Ireland Assembly to move on a Single Equality Bill, stating, "There is no way you can oppose this, it is long overdue and I would be confident that the Assembly will address this issue as it affects many of the members.
"We have been running campaigns on ageism and all its various aspects. It is the same as any of the other injustices in our society."
Paddy Joe, who is also a member of the Age Concern Western Forum has stressed that ageism is everywhere and a greater awareness of the problems is needed.
He said, "Age discrimination is rife in our society, and taking the example of the way older people are treated in hospitals. They are kept on the long finger, with clear illustrations showing that they are more likely to be left on chairs longer waiting and put on longer waiting lists, which is only one example of the array of cases of discrimination against the elderly.
"In all aspects of life there are cases of abuses against the elderly. What is needed to be done, and is being done at present is to increase awareness of ageism in our society."
About 50% of those interviewed in this recent study felt they suffered discrimination from health professionals and care services. They said some doctors dismissed their symptoms as "just old age" and 54% felt there was little dignity for older people in hospitals or care homes.
The survey, carried out by ICM, interviewed a random sample of 1321 adults aged 60 and over across Britain.
Duane Farrell, head of policy, research and communications at Help the Aged Northern Ireland, said ageist attitudes were "a daily blight" on people's lives.
"We live in a society where racism and sexism are not tolerated, yet age prejudice is tolerated and even accepted," "Unfair treatment wears people down. Ageist attitudes and practices are a daily blight on older people's lives, affecting the type of care they receive, the insurance options available to them and even the way they are spoken to."
