Aging Aging Research
Knowledge Is Key to Better Serve Aging Populations
Northern Ireland | Republic of Ireland | 2003 - 2014
One sign of a healthy society is whether people are living longer. An even better measure is whether nations experiencing increasing longevity are taking steps to learn as much as they can about their aging populations and using that knowledge to ensure older adults live healthy and active lives.
In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Atlantic made investments to stimulate, support and develop strategic age research; develop skilled leaders on aging research; and translate and communicate relevant research to help ensure it makes maximum impact on policy and practice.
What We Learned From This Work
Good policy depends on access to quality research and if it is in short supply, funders have an opportunity to support systems for developing and sharing knowledge. For example, we invested in fellowships, academic chairs at universities and established institutes such as the Centre for Age Research and Development in Ireland to fund, publish and disseminate research and policy briefs.
Sustained investment in human capital can generate world-class research communities and is key to attract leading academics.
Concerted attention to research translation is critical to policy influence.
Spreading a Wide Research Net
Atlantic’s efforts to support learning about the needs of aging populations yielded new and useful data about older adults.
Filling in the Blanks
Atlantic grants made it possible for the Centre for Age Research and Development in Ireland to fill evidence gaps in critical aging policy areas like over-use of medication in care facilities, loneliness and isolation, physical activity and poverty.
Taking the Long View
Atlantic supported the Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging and the Northern Ireland Longitudinal Study on Ageing to compile a rich repository of data on the economic, physical, mental well-being of older adults in the two countries.
Tilling New Ground
A main initiative of the Atlantic-supported Galway Centre for Social Gerontology in Ireland was the Rural Ageing Observatory, which enabled staff to examine previously neglected aspects of ageing in rural areas.
Here’s Who’s Helping Write the Next Chapter in This Continuing Story
Staying on Top of New Knowledge About Aging Adults
Summaries of Case Studies, Evaluations & Reports
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Health and Wellbeing: Active Ageing for Older Adults in Ireland
Source: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)
Evidence from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing People aged 54 and older in Ireland continue to make substantial contributions to their families and the communities in which they live, according to the third report of results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).…
Resource type: Research Report
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A Picture of Ageing Research in Ireland, North and South
Source: Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI)
Today 1.1 million people aged 60 and over live on the island of Ireland. By 2041 that number will reach 2.44 million, making up nearly one third of the island’s total population. Over the last decade, Atlantic has made significant investments to help build and…
Resource type: Research Report
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The Role and Contribution of Philanthropy to the Lives of Older People in Ireland
Source: The International Journal of Aging and Society
Atlantic's philanthropic work has played a role in transforming the ageing sector in Ireland since 2008, according to this report. Several methods were used in a sector-wide evaluation, including documentary analysis, one-to-one in-depth interviews, a cross-sectional survey of grant-holders and collaborative work with Northern Ireland.…
Resource type: Research Report
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The Over 50s in a Changing Ireland
Source: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing
More than one third of people over 50 in the Republic of Ireland are obese, with a further 45 per cent overweight, according to the second report of results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). The report outlines additional health challenges faced by…
Resource type: Research Report
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Fifty Plus in Ireland 2011
Source: Trinity College Dublin
Older people in Ireland play a valuable role in supporting their families and communities, are generally happy with life and have significant unmet health needs, according to this report by Trinity College Dublin. This is the first in a series of four reports from The…
Resource type: Research Report
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The New Agenda on Ageing: To Make Ireland the Best Country to Grow Old In
Source: Ageing Well Network
The Irish government has committed to introducing a National Positive Ageing Strategy, but what exactly is the nature of the problem we are trying to solve?Firstly, the quality of life of too many of our older people is poor. This report from the Ageing Well…
Resource type: Research Report
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Republic of Ireland
This book tells the story of how The Atlantic Philanthropies’ 30 years of investments had an extraordinary impact on the Republic of Ireland—from helping breathe life into the nation’s university system and its research capabilities, to supporting major advances in human rights, and spurring the…
Resource type: Insight
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Northern Ireland
This book tells the story of Atlantic’s grantmaking in Northern Ireland, where it helped promote peace, reshape education, improve public services, and strengthen organizations to promote and protect people’s rights.
Resource type: Insight
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