Martina Calvey

Ireland is entering one of the most significant demographic shifts in its history.

According to the Central Statistics Office, the number of people aged 65 and over has increased by more than 40% in just a decade, rising from 569,000 in 2013 to over 806,000 in 2023.

And this is only the beginning.

The CSO projects that the number of people aged 65+ will double again to around 1.6 million by 2051, fundamentally reshaping Irish society.

Within a generation, nearly one in three people in Ireland could be over 60.

This is not a crisis.

It is a success story of modern healthcare, better living standards and longer life expectancy.

But longevity on its own is not enough.

The real challenge for Ireland now is ensuring those extra years are lived stronger, healthier and more connected.

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The hidden challenge behind longevity

When we examine the CSO wellbeing data, the picture becomes clearer.

Loneliness among people aged 65 and older increased to 15.4% in 2024, highlighting the growing importance of social connection as we age.

At the same time, physical activity levels decline with age. For example, almost three in five people aged 75+ walk regularly, but this still trails far behind younger age groups.

We also know that many older adults are living longer but with chronic conditions that affect mobility, independence and quality of life.

The gap in Ireland is not awareness.

It is accessible, community-based solutions that help people stay active before health begins to decline.

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Healthy ageing is Ireland’s next national priority

Population ageing will affect every sector:

• Healthcare
• Community services
• Housing
• Families caring for loved ones
• The wider economy

The old-age dependency ratio — the number of people aged 65+ compared to working age adults — is projected to double from 25% to nearly 50% by 2057.

In simple terms, Ireland will soon have twice as many older adults relative to the working population.

If we fail to act now, the pressure on health and social services will be enormous.

But if we get this right, the benefits are equally enormous.

Healthy ageing is not just about living longer — it is about maintaining strength, mobility, independence and social connection.

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Communities are already showing what works

Across communities in the West of Ireland, we are already seeing how a different approach can work.

Hello GoodLife Ireland was founded to address a simple but critical gap: many people want to improve their health later in life but do not feel comfortable in traditional gyms or high-intensity fitness environments.

Our community Hello GoodLife Hubs introduce power-assisted exercise circuits designed  to support mature and older adults, people with lower mobility, long-term conditions, returning to exercise  with reduced confidence in fitness settings, it’s for every body all in a thoughtful, customised space designed for optimising the physical, social and mental health of  members.

This allows people regular consistent all-weather exercise and to begin exactly where they are, safely and at their own pace. Participants consistently report improvements in:

• Strength mobility and balance
• Confidence and independence
• Mental wellbeing
• Social connection

But perhaps the most powerful change is psychological.

People begin to exercise and socialise again when the right solution is there for them.

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A new vision for ageing in Ireland

The CSO data tells us something important.

Ireland is not just ageing.

It is living longer, staying active for longer and expecting more from later life.

Almost one in three people aged 65+ report high life satisfaction, a reminder that older age can be a vibrant and fulfilling stage of life.

Our responsibility as a society is to ensure the environment exists to support that.

That means:

• Designing communities that encourage movement
• Providing accessible exercise options
• Tackling loneliness and social isolation
• Supporting preventative health

In short, we must move from a system that reacts to illness to one that actively supports health & wellbeing throughout life.

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The opportunity ahead

Ireland has something incredibly powerful: strong local communities.

GAA clubs, community centres, local authorities, Men’s Sheds, Active Retirement groups and social enterprises already form the backbone of community life across the country.

If we connect those community assets with modern preventative health solutions, we can transform how people experience later life.

This is the mission behind the growing Hello GoodLife network of community fitness, health and wellbeing hubs.

Our goal is simple:

To help communities across Ireland create welcoming spaces where people can rebuild strength, confidence and connection.

Because ageing should never mean slowing down from life.

It should mean living it fully together — for as long as we can.