‘Healthy Ageing in Rural and Coastal Areas’ report launched

A report highlighting factors that can impact how we age on has been launched recently at an event in Fermanagh.  “Healthy Ageing in Rural and Coastal Areas” is a collaboration between Age NI, Queen’s University Belfast and The Paul Hogarth Company, with older people from both rural and coastal areas taking part in the research.  The report reveals issues that affected them most were transport, access to health and care, activities for staying well, design of public spaces, and loneliness and isolation.

Speaking about the report, Linda Robinson, Chief Executive of Age NI explains:

“At Age NI, our vision is a society in which we can thrive as we age and healthy ageing is at the heart of what we do.  We have been delighted to undertake this research as part of the Queen’s University SPACE project, in collaboration with The Paul Hogarth Company.

Our own Age NI Lived Experience Survey 2023 told us a great deal about what matters to older people, including equal access to appropriate healthcare and services; keeping safe from scams; transport and travel and the rights of older people. The SPACE research, with its focus on the experiences of older people living in rural and coastal areas, has enabled us to dig deeper into those issues, as well as many others, which are, in effect, the social and environmental determinants of the health and wellbeing of older people who live their lives further away from large centres of population.

Our thanks to all of the older people who shared their experiences with us throughout this process, to the SPACE project team at Queen’s University Belfast, and to The Paul Hogarth Company.  We look forward to the findings being put to use in helping to address health inequalities for older people.”

For older people in rural and coastal areas, the business of just getting around has emerged as the single biggest concern.  People said that poor access to transport and travel impacts on all other aspects of life: access to health and social care; access to activities that support healthy ageing and reduce isolation; access to public spaces and access to social and family connections. The report recognises the potential for these barriers to exacerbate health inequalities for older people living in peripheral areas.

Ruth Hunter, Professor of Public and Planetary Health, Queen’s University Belfast adds:

“Queen’s University Belfast has been leading research to understand how the environment in which we live causes ill-health and cognitive decline among our rapidly ageing population as part of the SPACE project. We have been proud to work in partnership with Age NI and The Paul Hogarth Company on this report which focuses in particular on the experiences of older adults in rural and coastal areas of Northern Ireland. It details the challenges faced in these areas, and importantly, it also explores possible, at times, very simple and straightforward solutions that can have a real impact. Ultimately, our aim is to help shape future policy in Northern Ireland and agree an ambitious agenda for integrating policy and action that supports healthy ageing in rural and coastal areas.”

The report also points to the various factors in rural and coastal areas which support healthy ageing, with a substantial focus on the range of activities, services and interventions provided by voluntary and community organisations, councils, and health and social care trusts supported by government departments, arm’s length bodies, and other funders, aimed at keeping people mobile, healthy and connected. That said, concern was expressed about the often short term and ad hoc nature of funding, which can make provision unpredictable.

Dr James Hennessey, Director, The Paul Hogarth Company comments:

“At The Paul Hogarth Company, we make a difference by designing places and spaces with people and the environment at their heart. Great places, be they urban or rural, are those that function well for everybody, regardless of age, ability, gender, background or belief. It is now hoped that the findings and recommendations of this report will go on to spur positive change, impacting upon those in decision making roles within central and local government and the wider development community. In doing so, we will not just improve the lives of older people, but everyone in our society.”

Read the report

SPACE stands for Supportive Environments for Physical and Social Activity, Healthy Ageing and Cognitive Health. Learn more about the SPACE project here.