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Sage – Support & Advocacy Service for Older People was formally established on 24th June 2014 through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the HSE, The Atlantic Philanthropies and Third Age. The Atlantic Philanthropies agreed to part-fund Sage with the HSE until 2018 with the HSE providing full funding thereafter. Sage Advocacy Clg was established in September 2017 and on 1st March 2018 it assumed full responsibility for the governance and future development of the service. On 1st July 2018 the patient advocacy services, previously provided by Patient Focus, moved to Sage Advocacy which now described itself as a support and advocacy service for vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients.
The MoA establishing Sage stated that the scope of the service was “The development and provision of an independent and impartial support and advocacy service for older people in all care settings – home, nursing home, hospital, hostel and hospice – and in the process of transition between them”. The key elements of the approach to developing the service were stated as:
Browne, M. and Mac Eochaidh, G., (2023), At-risk Adults and the Justice System
Sexual abuse in nursing homes: Issues for legislation, policy and practice in Ireland, A Sage Advocacy Discussion Paper (2023)
Developing an Observatory on Human Rights in Long-term Care in Ireland (2022)
Browne, M. (2020), Choice Matters: Towards a Continuum of Support and Care for Older Persons
Responding to the Challenges and Opportunities of an Ageing Population: How Long-term Care and Support is currently provided in Ireland, Presentation to Citizens Assembly (June 2017)
Protection of Liberty in the Provision of Care and Support to Vulnerable Adults: Project Interim Progress Report (October 2021)
Browne, M. (2020), Delivering Quality Medical Care in Irish Nursing Homes: Current Practice, Issues and Challenges
Best Practice in Supporting Adults Who May Be Vulnerable to Manage Their Own Finances A Discussion Document (May 2020)
A Human Rights-Based Approach to Care and Support in Health and Social Care Settings: Statement by Sage Advocacy (July 2019)
A New Deal; A discussion document on funding long-term support & care (May 2019)
The Nursing Home Support Scheme: Charges and Related Issues: A Discussion paper (December 2016)
Protection of Liberty in the Provision of Care and Support to Vulnerable Adults (POLPOC), Project Interim Progress Report (October 2021)
Browne, M. (2016), Forum Report: Responding to the Support and Care Needs of our Older Population, Shaping an Agenda for Future Action
The Nursing Home Support Scheme: Charges and Related Issues: A Sage Discussion Paper (September 2016)
Quality Standards for Support and Advocacy Work with Older People (2015)
Sage Advocacy Service for Survivors of Institutional Abuse: An Evaluation Framework and Current Context (July 2024)
Independent Advocacy in Ireland: Current Practice and Future Challenge: A Briefing Document for Sage Advocacy (November 2023)
Setting Standards: Assessment of Current Practice in Sage Advocacy Case Recording (November 2023)
Using Case Examples in Research, Policy Submissions and Media Briefings (June 2022)
Sage Policies and Operational Guidelines (2015 / Revised, 2018) and Policy on Responding to an Allegation of Abuse against a Sage Agent (2022)
Review of Case Management Recording System (with Renee Summers and Helen Fitzgerald) (2019)
South-East Citizen Advocacy Project: Establishment, Development and Future Implementation (2017)
Report of the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons on legal capacity and informed consent of older persons (February 2024)
Adult Safeguarding in the Health and Social Care Sector Dep. of Health (March 2024)
Central Bank Code of Practice (2024 and 2023)
Consultation on National Payments Strategy (2024)
Civil Legal Aid Scheme (2023)
Submission to Garda Síochána Inspectorate (January 2022)
Submission on Ireland Initial Report under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (April 2021)
Law Reform Commission Issues Paper A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding (May 2020)
HIQA Draft Guidance on a Human Rights-Based Approach to Care and Support in Health and Social Care Settings (July 2019)
Submission to inform the preparation of the National Policy on Social Enterprise (May 2019)
Contracts of Care in Long-term Residential Care Services for Older People: Submission to the Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (February 2018)
2020 – 2023 ERASMUS + EU Project
Intergenerational Solidarity: Selected Considerations: A Position Paper
A Rights-based Approach to Supporting Older Persons: Handbook of Good Practice
Submission to Commission on Care
Submission to Oireachtas Committee on implementation Issues regarding the Assisted decision Making (Capacity) Acts
Evaluation of Survivors of Institutional Abuse Project
Nursing Home Support Scheme
Cameras in Care
Self Neglect
Commission on Care for Older People – ‘GAA for Care’
Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Acts
Public understanding of the term ‘Next of Kin’ (2018)
Key issues to inform a submission to the Commission on Care for Older People (2023)
Sage has also been asked to contribute to oversight of programmes and the development of policies by organisations as varied as the Central Bank, Dept of Finance, Dept of Foreign Affairs, Dept of Justice, Dept of Social Protection, Dept of Health, HIQA, HSE, Legal Aid Board, Courts Service, Decision Support Service, CORU (Regulator for health & social care professionals), Nursing & Midwifery Board, Medical Council, Irish Gerontological Society and the Health Care Coalition of NGOs