Gerontologists Go To Ireland is a joint project between the Center for Healthy Aging and Shared World Educational Tours. It is a ten-day trip to Ireland intended to introduce North American gerontologists and allied professionals to their colleagues and projects in Ireland and to introduce Irish gerontologists and allied professionals to their counterparts from North America. The trip will also include a robust tourist element. Therefore, we expect the ratio of gerontological learning versus cultural learning, archeological exploration, tourist activities, and fun to be 40% to 60%.
During the ten-day trip, participants will meet with people in leadership roles in the Irish Aging Network, visit some cutting-edge projects, collaborate with their counterparts on services and supports for older adults taking the best of multiple approaches, and learn each other's theories of change.
While Ireland has a smaller percentage of people over 65, about 13.82% (IndexMundi 2020), as compared to the US, about 16.9% (Statistia 2020), the ratio of people between 20 and 64, in other words, "working age" is nearly identical, about 2.5 to 1 (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2021). Yet in 2020, the life expectancy of Ireland for ages over 65 is slightly higher than the US 21 years for women versus 20.7 for the US, and 18.3 years for Irish men 18.3 versus 18.1 years for the US men (UN Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2021).
Gerontologists Go To Ireland will have a unique itinerary, including many of the sites on the 'usual' tour and many others that are a little unusual. In addition, it offers the opportunity to meet some of the most influential and productive people in the field of aging, the real 'doers,' movers, and shakers.
Participants will learn about the unique elements of the Irish approach to aging, support for older adults, caregivers, and caregiving, primarily in the community, which positively impact Irish longevity, morbidity, life satisfaction, and much more. How does having a lifelong national health program benefit older people in Ireland versus the over 65 scheme known as Medicare in the US? In the US, and to a lesser degree, Canada, one of the significant factors causing older adults to move from their own homes is the frailty associated with aging. But is that also the case in Ireland? Ireland has about 1 nursing home bed for 20.23 persons over 65 (The Irish Times 2015). In the US, that number is about 1 for every 10 people over 65 (Care.com 2020). So, where is care given? In the US, about 80% of home-based long-term care is delivered by family or friends.
The trip will include three leaders. From the US, a Ph.D. Gerontologist with experience running a university-based center on aging and the CEO of the Center for Healthy Aging, and an MSW familiar with gerontological program development, operation, and assessment.
*All prices per person. Airfare to and from the country not included. Itinerary subject to change and will solidify over coming weeks.
Itinerary
Friday, May 20, 2022 | Dublin
Breakfast orientation – Clayton Hotel Dublin City Centre
Academic program – Dublin
Travel West to Westport, Ireland
Saturday, May 21 | Westport
Breakfast orientation – West of Ireland Tour Program
Academic program - Westport
Clew Bay/ Westport House and Garden tour
Sunday, May 22 | South Mayo/Galway
History and the West of Ireland Program
Incl. The Lost Valley tour, Tour of Connemara (Doolough, Delphi, Kylemore, ‘Insight’ – Lough Inagh Center for Science and Art)
Monday, May 23 | North Mayo
Academic/Culture/Archaeology program – North Mayo
St. Brendans Mulranny - Émigré Repatriation and Elder Care
Belmullet – Social Prescribing
The Ceide Fields
Ballinglen Arts Foundation
Tuesday, May 24 | Westport based free day
Sports/tourism/recreation program – Westport
Options for delegates to each engage in a variety of activities incl. Golf, Surfing, Beach Walks, Hill walking (Croagh Patrick), Clew Bay Archaeological Trail, Photography.
Wednesday, May 25 | On Tour Day, West of Ireland
A range of tours can be considered and agreed by the group on at the start of the week incl. Yeats Country Tour, The Burren and the Clifts of Moher, Clare Island - The Grainne Ualie Story
Thursday, May 26 | Touring East /Travel day
Visit to Newgrange Centre
Travel to Dublin
Dublin Visit program orientation
Friday, May 27 | Dublin
Academic Program Day
(Options Incl. Bealtine Festival, Genio - Dementia Research, ALONE - A support program for people aging in the community, SAGE Advocacy - Older adults supporting older adults, TILDA research centre in TCD)
Saturday, May 28 | Dublin Tours
Dublin Pass - tours of the historic and other sites of the City
The King Sitric - Howth Village
Sunday, May 29 | Dublin
Dublin Pass - tours of the historic and other sites of the City
Monday, May 30 | Dublin
Breakfast
Academic Program Day
Goodbye