November 2025 Alerts

UNITED NATIONS - DECADE OF HEALTHY AGEING.   2021 – 2030

https://www.decadeofhealthyageing.org/  

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION BASELINE REPORT [Dec 2020]

Adding Life to Year

Post November 12, 2025 Meeting update

EileenS welcomed all to our November 2025 meeting and those who have joined us for the first time. 

1.     Meeting update - upcoming events.

December 9 - Those who were successful in booking their own ticket to the National Concert Hall Christmas Concert were asked to confirm if they were planning to join the group in a post-Concert Lunch at the NCH.   Also, those who had listed for the post-Concert lunch and were not successful in getting a booking to let us know.    

Lillian who has reserved a table would need to know the final numbers in advance.  

December 10 – Post meeting lunch:  Those wishing to go along to the post meeting lunch at O’ Dwyers, Portmarnock were asked to put their names down on the list.

February 17, 2026 - Visit to Dail. The date and time for this visit organised by Liz was finalised.  Those interested in attending were asked to list for this visit.

2.     Fingal Older Persons Conference in conjunction with EU Korale Partners.

Several U3A members attended this recent working conference - ‘From Isolation to Inclusion: A Collaborative Approach’.   Keynote speakers were the Deputy Chair, FOPC, Dr Rachel Kenny from ALONE, and Susanne Rodgers, Chair of Ireland’s Loneliness Taskforce.

We heard from visiting speakers some good practices in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark and in the afternoon, we participated in Round Table Discussions to identify possible projects for Fingal.

3.     Navigating Life Changes as we Age – The Joy, Challenges & the Risks – In Conversation with Nora Owen.

As we age, we face life events and transitions and we are delighted to welcome Nora Owen, Former Minister for Justice to our meeting to have a conversation around this topic.  

Nora became a politician by chance and described how this came about after an approach to stand for upcoming local elections.   This was not on her ‘radar’ but she took up the challenge and was successful in being elected.   For over an hour Nora shared how she navigated her life events, her responses, the learnings.

As a former politician with such a long and distinguished career she willingly shared her varied experiences, the wins, the losses, the different directions, the continuous learnings, as she moved in and out of different roles.   She gave numerous examples of some of her experiences, including, amongst others, while working in Africa, Eastern Europe, Cambodia, Philippines, Afghanistan and how these experiences segued between each other.

Nora went on to share her personal story of her late husband, Brian, who was living with Dementia and how they both navigated this life change.   She also spoke about their connection with Forget-Me-Choir in Baldoyle and her ongoing involvement with the Choir.  

This led the conversation to Safeguarding Ireland, where Nora is a Trustee & Board Member and a strong advocate for the organization.  Their National Safeguarding Day event to raise awareness around this issue, that took place the previous Friday 7 November 2025

4.     Annual Adult Safeguarding Day Nov 7 2025 - https://safeguardingireland.org/

The theme for National Safeguarding Day this year was on rights and strengthening understanding and implementation of Assisted Decision-Making in services and communities.    The Assisted Decision-Making Act which came into effect in 2023 as putting this right into law.   Nora brought along a few posters and leaflets produced by Safeguarding Ireland for this day - ‘My Voice is my Right. Every person has a voice and the right to be heard and she reminded us of the importance of planning for our future and ‘Getting our House’ in order.

Safeguarding Ireland recommends that all adults make an Enduring Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. Nora reminded the meeting that a next-of-kin or family member has no legal authority to make decisions for another person. 

This was a very engaging, enjoyable, and informative conversation and EileenS thanked her on behalf of everyone and wish her all the best with all her ongoing advocacy work.

NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10 2025.