Nov 26, 2012:

Free Travel Scheme Essential for Health and Wellbeing of Older People - Active Retirement Ireland

The Government must commit to protecting the free travel scheme in the forthcoming budget.  That's according to Active Retirement Ireland (ARI), which held an event in Dublin today (26.11.12) to launch new research into the health benefits of staying socially connected in older age. 

 

Retired TD Mary Upton was one of the speakers at the event.  In her address, she said free travel provides an "essential lifeline" for older people.

 

"When I was a TD, I was very conscious that many of my older constituents were completely dependent on free travel to keep them active and socially engaged," she said.  "I've met hundreds of older people who use their free travel on a daily basis.  They might take the bus to a local church to attend daily mass, for example, and then go for a cup of tea afterwards with their friends.  Or they might be dependent on the scheme for transport to and from medical appointments. 

 

"For some older people,  activities organised by groups like active retirement associations are their only reason for leaving their house each day.  Free travel facilitates their continued involvement in their communities and allows them to maintain important social connections.  If this was taken from them, it would cut off their social outlets and leave them extremely isolated.  Obviously, this would have serious implications for their health and mental wellbeing." 

 

According to Active Retirement Ireland, the threat of cuts to the free travel scheme has been the issue causing most concern to the organisation's 22,500 members this year. 

 

"We've been getting calls from members all over the country who are truly fearful about the impact any cuts might have," said Maureen Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer of ARI.  "They're afraid that, if free travel is cut, their links to the outside world will be severed. 

 

"It has become popular amongst certain sectors of society to depict older people as well-off individuals who can easily afford to shoulder the burden of more cuts.  But the truth is that many older people are extremely vulnerable, and are at real risk of social isolation. 

 

"Staying socially active as you age has been proven to have tangible health benefits.  Free travel is one of the key facilitators of social engagement for Ireland's older population, and it must be maintained.  Our message to the Government is clear: if you curtail the free travel scheme in any way, you will damage the health and wellbeing of older people.  Depression and mental health issues affect tens of thousands of older people.  If you take away the lifeline the free travel scheme provides, you place more and more older people at risk of social isolation and mental health issues.  What real cost-savings are to be made in this scenario?"

 

At today's event, Active Retirement Ireland launched a research report on how social engagement benefits older people's health.  The report was produced by the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway. 

The Panel Debate at ARI's Research Launch

 

"This research shows how certain demographic groups are at greater risk of social isolation as they age," said Maureen Kavanagh.  "Men, single or widowed people, those on lower incomes and those with lower levels of educational attainment are less inclined to be actively involved in their communities and to have strong social support networks built up around them.  As a result, they can become isolated as they grow older, and isolation can contribute directly to health problems such as depression and dementia. 

 

"One in 10 older people in Ireland suffer from depression.  And what's really alarming is that depression among the old is sometimes viewed as a natural side-effect of ageing.  Depression is not something that should be accepted as an unavoidable consequence of growing older. 

 

"We know from our research that older people who maintain strong social contacts and are physically and mentally active are less like to become depressed, and have better resistance to physical and mental health ailments.  As a society, we must ensure older people are supported to maintain their social connections and to remain actively involved in their local communities as they age." 

 

Ned Reck, a member of Midleton Active Retirement Association, spoke about his personal experiences of overcoming health difficulties today. 

 

"I retired early - when I was 61 – because of ill-health," he said.  "In the months after my retirement, I was in bad shape, both physically and mentally.  I was going through the motions of living, but I didn't really feel like I had a lot to live for.  Then one of my doctors suggested I should get involved in activities outside the home, so I began playing indoor bowls with Midleton Active Retirement Association.  That led to other things: I took a computer class at the local community college, became interested in local history, and found I was more confident than before and better able to interact with the wider community. 

 

Ned Reck of Midleton and Thomas & Barbara O'Flaherty of Clondalkin Call for Protection of the Free Travel Pass

"I definitely feel more valuable and valued now - as a dad, granddad, brother, neighbour and citizen.  I've also realised life doesn't stop when you retire, even if you're not in full health.  There's still a great amount of usefulness left in us all, and getting involved in your local community is a great vehicle through which to harness it.  It's certainly a better alternative to sitting at home in front of the TV, just vegetating."

To read the research, click Download.

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