The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland

01/10/2026

The Commissioner celebrated International Day for Older Persons and kicked-off Positive Ageing Month by attending the Positive Ageing Event at the Quays in Newry.
Watch what Siobhan has to say in the below video - and keep your eye on our page for further updates throughout October!

30/09/2026

The Commissioner spoke on BBC's Good Morning Ulster this morning giving her reaction to yesterday's announcement by the Prime Minister to adjust the State Pension Triple Lock. In a statement the Commissioner said: "We must be very careful not to talk about pensioners as though they are one wealthy group who can simply afford to take a hit to their income. They are not.

"Some older people have occupational pensions, savings, investments or other assets. But others are living on the State Pension with very little else to fall back on. For those people, their State Pension is not a bonus or an additional source of income, it is what they live on.

"Our own evidence shows that, for the poorest 40% of pensioners in Northern Ireland, more than 90% of their income comes from public benefits. That tells us very clearly that there are older people for whom changes to the State Pension can have a profound impact on their financial security." You can read the full statement here https://copni.org/news/articles/statement-on-proposed-changes-to-pension-triple-lock?token=IaRcQ_mx-ekeAUpVj2yvdRn7K3R2xRyL&x-craft-preview=ba3948c762a789effd78e5e6bda35e20e18920bf7135670853abcb5bbe0a22b5cfyvaslwmq

25/09/2026

Yesterday, the Commissioner gave evidence to the Justice Committee on the Criminal Justice (Sentencing etc.) Bill, calling for age to be included as an aggravating factor where an offence involves hostility because of a person’s age.

One of the arguments against including age is that everyone has an age and extending protection in this way could dilute the purpose of hate crime legislation and that the inclusion of the vulnerability aggravator should suffice.

But the issue is not whether everyone has an age. It is whether someone is targeted because of their age.

The Commissioner told the Committee that vulnerability and age-based hostility are not the same thing. The Bill’s proposed vulnerability aggravator is welcome, but it doesn't recognise that someone can be targeted or subjected to hostility simply because they are older. Older people should be protected both where they are targeted because they are vulnerable and where they are targeted because they are older.

We are not saying that every crime against an older person should be treated as a hate crime. We are saying that where age-based hostility is present, the law should be capable of recognising it.
Judge Marrinan’s 2020 independent review recommended that age should be included as a protected characteristic in hate crime legislation.

The Commissioner will continue to make the case that older people should have the same protection from age-based hostility as other groups.

Watch the evidence session again below at 1:54:50

On the agenda:Committee BusinessCriminal Justice (Sentencing etc...

22/09/2026

Join the Commissioner for this FREE event at Lisburn Library on 13th October all about brain health and positive ageing. Booking essential - call 028 9266 9345 or email [email protected]

Join Libraries NI at Lisburn City Library on 13 October for a free event exploring brain health, wellbeing and positive ageing! 🙌

Mind Matters: Brain Health and Ageing Well will feature Dr Sinéad Eccles from The Open University, who will introduce the Future Life Toolkit and Take 5 to Age Well — practical resources designed to help people build habits that support healthy ageing, resilience and wellbeing throughout life.

Attendees will also hear from Siobhan Casey, Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland, about the importance of ensuring older people are valued, heard and supported within society.

📍 Lisburn City Library
🗓️ Tuesday 13 October
⏰ 10:30am - 12:30pm

Booking essential -
☎️ 028 9266 9345
✉️ [email protected]

The Open University in Northern Ireland The Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland

15/09/2026

Today, the Commissioner and her team were delighted to welcome a delegation from Dementia NI and its Member Forum.
Watch the below video to hear what Siobhan and forum members Allison Batchelor and Graham McElhinney had to say about today’s meeting - which discussed consistency in support on diagnosis and a health and welfare lasting power of attorney.

15/09/2026

Applications for the £100 digital voucher for home heating oil are currently open. You may be eligible for the scheme if you use home heating oil as your main heating source and for at least one day of either qualifying period, you were:

a resident in Northern Ireland and getting a qualifying benefit or you were a single person or part of a couple, with a net annual income below £30,000. You must make an application as awards for the home heating oil support scheme will not be made automatically.

You will need to apply before the scheme closes on 31 March 2027. For more information on how to apply visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/apply-online-home-heating-oil-support?fbclid=IwY2xjawUV515wZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMGdBQklUWWVTVU11WWRPeXhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeUrq0NAnfyxv8mPz2RRkHTVUOytkoeKJ5NRgrWcZMJCxdkWF1KOTUIVUpfcQ_aem_jtvOA46p5fc4eNTvN_-8pw

*Please note, this scheme is not operated by COPNI, we are sharing for information only. If you need help applying, please contact 0800 072 0266

04/09/2026

The Commissioner was pleased to join today's meeting of the Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership and to spend time with those who are committed to improving the lives of older people.

Siobhan was happy to have the opportunity to speak with those working within the sector about her role - and also hear about the great work that they do to enrich the lives of older people.

28/08/2026

The office for the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland will be closed on Monday 31 August.

We will reopen as normal on Tuesday 1 September.

27/08/2026

The Commissioner was very pleased to spend time with the Memory Lane Group in Omagh Library yesterday.

A big thank you to everyone who shared their personal experiences. Listening directly to older people living with dementia is massively important in understanding the issues that matter most to them.

Thank you to the group for such an open and valuable conversation.

26/08/2026

The Commissioner would like to send her congratulations to Anne Bradley for being one of four finalists in the Great Neighbour Award at the 2026 BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle Make a Difference Awards.

The nomination is for her excellent community work in bringing people together and supporting older residents. Well done, Anne!

Learn more about Anne achievements below…

A QUARTER of a century of dedication to the Plumbridge, Cranagh and wider Glenelly community has earned Anne Bradley national recognition after she was named as one of four finalists for the Great Neighbour Award at the 2026 BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio Foyle Make a Difference Awards.