Seven days of events aimed at dispelling negative perceptions about ageing in Ireland get underway today.
Age Action Ireland's (AAI) Positive Ageing week will see some 300 activities staged throughout the country for older people.
Eamon Timmins, of AAI, said the events were about having fun and highlighting the continuing discrimination older people experience.
"We still have people being forced to retire at 65, older people being refused car and travel insurance because of their age, and women over 64 are being denied scans under the Breast Check scheme," he said.
The programme of events includes coffee mornings and table quizzes, outings, art exhibitions, cabarets, dance workshops and music sessions.
Among the national events is a conference on rights and entitlements of older people, at Croke Park to be addressed by Minister for Health Mary Harney and Equality Authority chief executive Niall Crowley.
An ecumenical service is also planned for Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, attended by representatives of the main Christian churches.