Call for national longevity action plan as study finds one in three children born will live to 100 

Overall life expectancy in Ireland in 2023, for which the latest Eurostat data is available, was 82.9 years. For males, life expectancy was 81.1 years and for females it was 84.6 years. File picture

One in three children born in Ireland today will now live to 100, meaning a cradle-to-grave approach around wellbeing and life-long opportunities must be developed, a study has found.

With life expectancy increasing, the 100 Year Lives Project has concluded that longer lives should not be treated mainly as a burden on health services, pensions, or families, but as an opportunity to reshape how people learn, work, live, and take part in their communities throughout life.

Polling as part of the study found that people see both promise and risk in living longer.

Physical health issues were a leading concern of aging, with 84% of people singling this out, this was followed by cognitive decline (83%) and loss of independence (82%).

The strongest hopes are seeing family members grow up (86%), benefiting from healthcare advances (80%), and passing on wisdom and experience (77%).

The report proposes a cradle-to-grave approach built around a number of symbiotic priorities, including connected wellbeing, lifelong opportunities, and active citizenship.

The researchers have made six key recommendations, including the rollout of a co-ordinated national action plan on longevity and wellbeing through a dedicated institute or existing public body.

It also recommends that education, which includes financial and AI literacy and ethics, is essential and stated that there should be flexible links between learning, work, care, and wellbeing to allow for life-long learning.

“We believe that 100-year lives don’t have to be daunting. 

"Instead, Ireland has a unique opportunity to be a global trailblazer and enact new people-centric models which will encourage new modes of thinking, learning, earning, and relating across the whole of society,” report authors Karen Hand and Carolyn Odgers said.

The study also sets out 18 potential pilot projects to turn the research into practical action and build evidence for policy and investment.

These include intergenerational housing, and financial literacy, youth mental health collaboration, local citizens’ assemblies, community climate action, and a national Meitheal Mór initiative recognising people aged over 100 years old do strengthen community life.

For example, the Dutch model of intergenerational housing could be adapted in Ireland to strengthen connection across age groups to everyone’s benefit — where older people provide advice and support to younger people and younger people provide energy and companionship to older people.

'Rallying call' to leadership'

The research combined 16 expert interviews, six citizen co-creation workshops in Dublin, Cork, and Mullingar, nationally representative polling, and consultation with Community Foundation Ireland partners.

Community Foundation Ireland chief executive Denise Charlton said: “A longevity approach connects health, education, housing, good work, financial resilience, and community participation, addressing inequality early rather than managing its consequences later.”

“The recommendations represent a rallying call seeking national leadership to co-ordinate actions on longevity and wellbeing,” said Ms Charlton.

“In doing so as a society we can deliver positive aging, lifelong.”

Overall life expectancy in Ireland in 2023, for which the latest Eurostat data is available, was 82.9 years. For males, life expectancy was 81.1 years and for females it was 84.6 years.

• Elaine Loughlin is Political Editor.