Co-Design in Action: Older Adults Help Shape Ireland’s Healthy Ageing Profile

This week marked a major milestone in our mission to develop a meaningful, data-driven health and wellbeing profile for older adults in Ireland. As part of the HSE-funded project Co-designing a Health and Wellbeing Profile for Older Adults within the Irish Health System, we hosted a vibrant and engaging workshop that brought together 29 older adults from across the country.

Despite many having to travel long distances, the energy and enthusiasm in the room was undeniable. The workshop, co-designed and delivered in partnership with UCD (School of Medicine and ADAPT Centre) and NCAD (DesignLab: Health), aimed to gain rich, first-hand insights into what older adults believe should be included in the national profile. Their lived experiences and priorities are central to shaping the future of older adult healthcare planning in Ireland.

A Collaborative and Reflective Experience

The workshop was carefully structured around co-design principles, offering participants a voice in both identifying key themes and prioritising the kinds of information they believe policymakers need. Through collaborative exercises, rich discussions, and thoughtful facilitation, attendees shared what matters most in supporting health, independence, and happiness in later life.

A few standout moments included:

• Deep, thematic conversations about what information should be collected and shared to support planning for better health and social care systems.

  
  

• An excellent atmosphere of openness, humour, and shared purpose, something several participants personally commented on as a highlight of the day.

  
  

Who Made It Happen

Special thanks go to Dr. Mary Browne (Project Lead, Consultant in Public Health Medicine – Health Service Improvement) for introducing the session and leading early discussions with clarity and care, and to Dr. Deirdre O’Donnell (Assistant Professor, Health Systems, Deputy Director of UCD IRIS Centre), our expert lead facilitator, who guided the room through an inclusive and thoughtful design process.

The event was part of a broader collaborative effort, involving:

• The National Health Service Improvement Team

• The National Clinical Programme for Older People

• The National Health Intelligence Unit

• Regional Departments of Public Health (HSE Dublin & South East, and HSE South West)

• University College Dublin (School of Medicine and ADAPT Centre)

• National College of Art and Design (DesignLab: Health)

  
  

What’s Next?

The data and feedback collected at this workshop will now be synthesised to inform the structure and content of the national Healthy Ageing Profile. Our goal is to ensure this profile is not only evidence-based but also deeply rooted in the values, needs, and realities of older adults in Ireland.