This report represents the findings of the workshops held during the Louth Age Friendly County Initiative seminar. Participants in the workshops included older people, representatives from nursing homes, representatives from the Alzheimer's Society, elected members of Louth Local Authorities, officials from Louth Local Authorities, HSE, and state agencies, members of Louth County Development Board, representatives from Louth Community and Voluntary Forum, members of the National Age Well Network, representatives from the church and members of Comhairle na nOg.
The seminar was held to launch Louth as an Age Friendly County. The purpose of the seminar was to stimulate ambition and gain the support of likely players in the Louth AFC initiative, by allowing them hear from successful projects
elsewhere, to identify the opportunities and key challenges/barriers that players will face in making this happen, and to engage the support of leaders at national level in helping address those challenges.
Five questions were addressed in the workshops:
1. Key Features: What do we think should be the key elements of the Louth Age-Friendly County initiative?
2. Older People: What do we need to do to ensure that older people are involved in developing and implementing the
Louth Age-Friendly County Plan? Given the large number of groups in the county, many locally based, what sort of structure do we need to create?
3. Partnership: What can we do to strengthen co-operation and partnership between the statutory agencies and
between the statutory agencies and others - older people's organisations, business, NGOs etc?
4. Better use of resources: What can we do to make better use of existing resources? The transport initiative is one
example, what are others?
5. Challenges: What are the key challenges to making this happen? What are the challenges that can be resolved here
World Health Organisation (WHO)
Checklist for age friendly cities
1. Outdoor spaces and buildings
Public areas clean and pleasant.Green spaces and outdoor seating sufficient in number, well-maintained and safe.
Pavements well-maintained, free of obstructions and reserved for pedestrians.
Pavements non-slip, wide enough for wheelchairs and have dropped curbs to road level.
Pedestrian crossings sufficient in number and safe for people with different levels and types of disability. Nonslip markings, visual and audio cues and
adequate crossing times.
Drivers give way to pedestrians at intersections and pedestrian crossings.
Cycle paths separate from pavements and pedestrian walkways.
Outdoor safety promoted by good street lighting, police patrols and community education.
Services situated together and accessible. Special customer service arrangements provided, e.g. separate queues or service counters for older people.
Buildings well-signed outside and inside, with sufficient seating and toilets, accessible elevators, ramps, railings stairs. Non-slip floors.
Public toilets both outdoors and indoors sufficient in number, clean, well-maintained and accessible.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Provide seating around key locations e.g. churches, hospitals, shopping centre, supermarkets, post offices and in pedestrian areas
Ensure sufficient time to cross at traffic lights Maintain footpaths
Facilitate walking in rural areas re traffic dangers Joint Policing Committee to target basic measures addressing crime and fear of crime among older people e.g. regular patrols, no cold callers.
Enablers/Processes
Older Persons' Forum
Create an overarching assembly with local reps and administration (consider existing structures CDB and RAPID)
Could establish a dedicated sub-committee from CDB because all agencies already represented at this level. Representative Senior coordinating council - one person from each group e.g. Community Garda, Elderly help services, Meals on Wheels , Senior Citizens Parliament
County coordinator e.g. Council official / HSE / Gardai Advisory committee made up of active retirement groups
Older Persons Officer (elected official) to act as a champion within Local Authority
[The enablers suggested in this column apply to each of the 8 action areas]
The seminar management group agreed to align the comments collated from the seminar with the
key features of an age friendly city identified by the World Health Organisation.
2. Transportation
Public transportation costs should be consistent, clearly displayed and affordable.
Public transportation reliable/frequent, including at night, weekends and holidays.
All areas and services accessible by public transport -good connections and well-marked routes and vehicles. Vehicles clean, well-maintained, accessible, not
overcrowded and have priority seating that is respected. Specialized transportation available for disabled people. Drivers to stop at designated stops and beside the curb to facilitate boarding and wait for passengers to be seated before driving off.
Transport stops and stations conveniently located, accessible, safe, clean, well-lit and well-marked, with adequate seating and shelter.
Complete and accessible information is provided to users about routes, schedules and special needs facilities.
A voluntary transport service is available where public transportation is too limited.
Taxis accessible and affordable. Drivers courteous and helpful.
Roads well-maintained, with covered drains and good lighting.
Traffic flow well-regulated.
Roadways free of obstructions that block drivers' vision. Traffic signs and intersections are visible and well -placed.
Driver education and refresher courses are promoted for all drivers.
Parking and drop-off areas safe, sufficient in number and conveniently located.
Priority parking and drop-off spots for people with special needs are available and respected.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Provide regular bus service
Provide affordable accessible transport Connectivity between towns and villages
Connectivity - gear existing services to meet needs of older people
Provide rural transport e.g. use taxi vouchers where bus service absent
Louth Leader Partnership - provide door to door service
Improve service delivery of Dundalk/Newry route Driving Miss Daisy service (private funded) DkIT transport programme
Omeath cut off
Link Blackrock service with train service Provide bus stops outside hospital doors Utilise new transport initiative via Louth Leader Partnership
3. Housing
Sufficient, affordable housing available in areas that are safe and close to services and the rest of the community.
Sufficient and affordable home maintenance and support services available.
Housing well-constructed and provides safe and comfortable shelter from the weather.
Interior spaces and level surfaces allow freedom of movement in all rooms and passageways.
Home modification options/supplies available and affordable. Providers understand the needs of older people.
Public and commercial rental housing clean, well-maintained and safe.
Sufficient and affordable housing for frail and disabled older people, with appropriate services, provided locally.
4. Social participation
Venues for events and activities conveniently located, accessible, well-lit and easily reached by public transport.
Events held at times convenient for older people. Activities and events can be attended alone or with a companion.
Activities and attractions affordable, with no hidden or additional participation costs.
Good information about activities and events provided, including details about accessibility of facilities and transportation options for older people.
A wide variety of activities offered to appeal to a diverse population of older people.
Gatherings including older people are held in various local community spots, e.g. recreation centres, schools, libraries, community centres and parks. Consistent outreach to include people at risk of social isolation.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Housing - how do older people live
Use SIMON Community as resource re design of housing etc for older people.
Prioritize housing adaptations to allow people to live as long as possible at home.
Help older people to feel safe at home.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Address loneliness-need point of contact e.g. telephone Isolation, use of IT to communicate with family abroad, Skype
Address isolation of older people within community e.g. phones in the home
Facilitate meeting of active retirement/senior citizens groups e.g. room in shopping centre, drop in centres, empty schools
Ensure that people in residential care are not excluded
Enablers/Processes
5. Respect and social inclusion
Older people visible in media, and depicted positively - no stereotyping.
Older people regularly consulted by public, voluntary and commercial services on how to serve them better. Services/products to suit varying needs /preferences provided by public and commercial services.
Service courteous/helpful.
Activities/events attract all generations by
accommodating age-specific needs and preferences. Older people specifically included in community activities for "families".
Schools provide opportunities to learn about ageing and older people, and involve older people in school activities.
Older people are recognised by community for their past as well as their present contributions.
Older people who are less well-off have good access to public, voluntary and private services.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Anti-ageism
Positive image campaign
Foster an appreciation of older people Design ways to create more respect for older people.
Press - introduction of a Seniors Page
Social Inclusion
Foster involvement - creative arts festival
Promoting Intergenerational contacts
Raise awareness of older people's needs e.g. Use transition year students/Youthreach (President's Programme) and have a structured project in place Promote greater intergenerational contact e.g. Age Friendly Day in schools
Create initiatives for older/younger people e.g. learning to knit
Remove barriers so old and young people can work together e.g. Tidy Towns Committees
Enablers/Processes
Leaders in areas i.e. trusted reps to speak on behalf of older people
6. Civic participation and employment
Range of flexible options for older volunteers available, with training, recognition, guidance and compensation for personal costs.Qualities of older employees well promoted. Promote range of flexible and appropriately paid opportunities for older people to work.
Age discrimination forbidden in the hiring, retention, promotion and training of employees.
Workplaces adapted to meet the needs of disabled people.
Promote and support self-employment options for older people
Provide training in post-retirement options for older workers.
Decision-making bodies (public, private/voluntary) encourage and facilitate membership of older people.
7. Communication & information
Basic, effective communication system reaches community residents of all ages.Regular and widespread distribution of information is assured and a coordinated, centralised access is provided.
Offer regular information and broadcasts of interest to older people.
Oral communication accessible to older people is promoted.
People at risk of social isolation get one-to-one information from trusted individuals.
Public and commercial services provide friendly, person-to-person service on request.
Printed information - including official forms, television captions and text on visual displays - has large
lettering and the main ideas are shown by clear headings and bold text.
Uses simple, familiar words in short, straightforward sentences in print and spoken communications. Telephone answering services give instructions slowly and clearly and tell callers how to repeat the message at any time.
Large buttons and big lettering on electronic
equipment, e.g. mobile telephones, radios, televisions, and bank and ticket machines.
There is wide public access to computers and the Internet, at no or minimal charge, e.g. government offices, community centres and libraries.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Promotion of older people in education - IT awareness needed
Training of staff-senior friendly training model Explore structure to enable older people to identify priorities for action.
Enablers/Processes
Leaders in areas i.e. trusted reps to speak on behalf of older people
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Promote communication between community alert groups, residents associations, resource centres, drop in centres, community time bank.
Ensure access to information held by HSE Make information user friendly.
Provide comprehensive Information booklet on services
Provide user friendly forms
Speak to people not machines (dedicated older person's officer to assist older people)
Provide information sessions on rights of older people
Define structures and represent them in a clear manner-documenting so that senior person knows where to find information
Use radio, network groups to distribute information Dedicated slot on radio to highlight entitlements and activities
News letters to churches, post, local radio, media. Free-phone number also a possibility
Enablers/Processes
Dedicated Older Persons Officer in LA
A panel of older people to consult for advice on accessing local services might be a good idea. Service brokers for older people
8. Community and health services
Adequate range of health and community support services offered for promoting, maintaining and restoring health.Home care services include health, personal care and housekeeping.
Health and social services conveniently located and accessible by all means of transport.
Residential care facilities and designated older
people's housing located close to services and the rest of community.
Health and community service facilities safely constructed and fully accessible.
Clear and accessible information provided about health and social services for older people.
Delivery of services coordinated and administratively simple.
Staff are respectful, helpful and trained to serve older people.
Minimize economic barriers impeding access to health and community support services
Voluntary services by people of all ages encouraged and supported.
Sufficient and accessible burial sites.
Community emergency planning takes into account the vulnerabilities and capacities of older people.
Actions/Outcomes identified for Louth
Do not medicalise old age
Divide home care into shorter visits to enable more frequent visits.
Develop integrated primary care teams.
Provide service to help with small domestic tasks Make accessing financial services easier (e.g. Snow Angel "buddy service")
Make better use of existing services like An Post bill pay, MABS etc
Provide Doctor on call
Promote age friendliness e.g. award for shops / businesses (sticker on window)
Business - set up initiatives which provide discounts for older people
Coordination of services:
Partnership approach e.g. pool resources Cross agency co-operation e.g. NGO's, government agencies
Source everything that is available i.e. research all information or services in the County (SWOT analysis)
Volunteerism:
Facilitate volunteering among young people e.g. turn volunteerism into work experience. TY Students achieve credits by helping in projects Provide training for young people
Enablers/Processes
Local Authority proactive in providing information on services.
Age Friendly Initiative facilitated at local and national levels
Age Friendly Initiative embedded in LA.
Designed
by:
www
