dlr Age-Friendly County

dlr Age-Friendly Programme

In June 2013, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) signed the Dublin Declaration on Age-Friendly Cities & Communities in Europe and is affiliated to the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities & Communities. 

 

This means that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is now committed to working towards becoming an Age-Friendly County by creating an inclusive, equitable society in which older people can live full, active, valued and healthy lives. 

The publication of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Age-Friendly Strategy 2016 – 2020 and the establishment of the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance and dlr Age-Friendly Programme were the first steps towards delivering on that commitment.

The dlr Age-Friendly Programme based in dlr County Council is part of a national programme working with partners to improve the quality of life of older people across the county by:
• Collaborating within dlr County Council to provide walkable streets, age-friendly public realm, housing and transport options, age-friendly activities and programmes with dlr Libraries, Arts, Heritage & Tourism Offices as well as DLR Sports Partnership & Active Cities Programme; the dlr Age-Friendly Business Recognition Programme and organising opportunities for older people to participate in community, social, cultural, physical and economic activities across dlr.
• Co-operating with local community & volunteer groups and organisations, Active Retirement groups, Men’s Sheds, older individuals, nursing homes and Day Care Centre’s in supporting older residents needs;
• Providing information on resources and activities available through the dlr Age-Friendly Directory of Activities and Services; the dlr Age-Friendly Magazine and Leaflets; information videos etc.;
• Supporting the dlr Older People's Council, dlr Age-Friendly Alliance and our dlr Age-Friendly Ambassador. 
• Organising the dlr Age Well Expo; dlr Festival of Inclusion, UN International Day of Older Persons events and collaborating on Bealtaine Festival events;
• Promoting Digital Inclusion and providing funding to various Age-Friendly projects and groups across dlr.

 Banshees of Inisherin star Sheila Flitton performing at dlr Age Well Expo 2023

On Sunday June 11th 2023 from 10a.m – 4p.m, in the Pavilion at Leopardstown Racecourse, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council presents the dlr Age Well Expo in association with the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance to celebrate and showcase services and activities available to older people in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

The dlr Age Well Expo will provide an opportunity to socialise, connect, engage and hear about topics of interest, particularly around the subjects of ageing well, participation, health, security and social activities, over two sessions on the day. 

Speakers on the day will include Professor Ian Robertson, author of the brilliant and thought-provoking book; ‘How confidence works: The new science of self-belief’ with a talk on Confident Ageing.  Celebrity Chef Tara Walker will be doing a Cookery Demonstration entitled Healthy Cooking for One.  Latest research findings on The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) in Ireland will be presented by Dr Ann Monaghan from TCD.   Áine Flynn, director of the newly launched Decision Support Service will give a presentation on Decision-Making legislation and one of the highlights of the event will be a performance by 90-year-old Actress Sheila Flitton from the Banshees of Inisherin, of her highly acclaimed one-woman show ‘Beezie’ as well as over 40 exhibition stands from groups and organisations on the many supports and activities available to older people in dlr. 

There will be free return buses running from Dún Laoghaire DART Station and Ballinteer Community School, in the morning and the afternoon, no booking required and more information available at dlrevents.eventbrite.ie

The event is free, everyone is welcome and in order to manage numbers, booking is essential at dlrevents.eventbrite.ie or call the Community Section of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at 01 205 4893 for assistance with the online booking.

More information available at: http://events.dlrcoco.ie/event/dlr-age-well-expo and looking forward to seeing you on the day!

dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026

Health, Housing & Transport - Improving life for older people in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown!

 

The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown (dlr) Age-Friendly Strategy, 2022-2026 was launched by Mary Butler TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People in County Hall, Dún Laoghaire on the 22nd of March 2023.

The 5-year strategy agreed by the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance sets out the vision, objectives and actions to promote Age-Friendly supports and activities over the coming years so that older people can engage positively within their communities for as long as possible. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown has a higher-than-average number of people aged over 65 and this is expected to double in the next 25 years.

The dlr Age-Friendly Alliance have agreed over 60 actions in the Strategy, which are based on widespread consultation with the public, with the members of the Alliance and other groups and individuals supporting older people in dlr.

Speaking at the launch, Councillor Mary Hanafin, An Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said:

I am confident that the dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 will without doubt improve the experiences of the increasing number of older people living in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.  The Strategy, designed to meet the needs of all and to meet the demands of a digital age has, at its heart, the underpinning vision, mission, values and strategic priorities to frame a flexible, inclusive and inter-generational action agenda to enhance dlr’s ‘age friendliness for all’ over the coming years. I congratulate all the member organisations and groups of the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance, the members of the dlr Older People’s Council and the Community Section of dlr County Council who have drawn together this strategy.  I wish the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance well in implementing the Strategy so that we can best support, plan and respond to the needs of our older citizens in dlr over the coming years."

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

Built upon the extensive achievements of our first Age-Friendly Strategy 2016 - 2020, this new strategy is informed by the many diverse voices of older people throughout the county and is guided by extensive consultation with the public, our stakeholders and partners resulting in a more holistic Age-Friendly Strategy focused on our people, our places and our communities, and which recognises that our success is founded on our collective capacity to work together effectively and in harmony. Our shared mission of dlr as ‘a vibrant place where people can thrive and fulfil their potential in their local communities and neighbourhoods throughout their lives’, is dependent upon us working well together to incrementally improve our physical environment, our social environment and the quality of our joined-up services to ensure that older people experience health, well-being and fulfilment in their local communities.”

The dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 is part of the National Age-Friendly Ireland programme affiliated to the global World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Network. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have an Age-Friendly Alliance co-operating at county level to improve the quality of life of older people in the county and to prepare for the rapid ageing of our population by paying increased attention to the environmental, economic and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults. We also have an an Age-Friendly Programme Manager who will implement our local strategy. 

Launching the dlr Age-Friendly Strategy, Minister Mary Butler stated:

"Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown should be very proud of their leading role in ensuring older people in their communities thrive and fulfil their potential. The new strategy here today reflects the commitment and future ambition in this area. With more than 60 age-friendly actions identified by dozens of groups and organisations, the strategy certainly reflects many diverse voices of older people throughout the county. As I often note, the voice and choice of older people should be heard and be central to our planning and decision making. As a Government, we are committed to creating an age friendly Ireland and to supporting older people to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. In 2023, our overall investment in older persons services will be over €2.4 billion. This ensures that each day, older people in our communities are supported to live independently through key services such as day care centres, meals-on-wheels and home support."

The dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 is available to view below:

 

• Continued development of age-friendly and dementia inclusive events, activities, supports and services being provided by dlr Libraries, Arts Office, Age-Friendly programme, cultural organisations and the Living Well with Dementia programme and Southside Partnership DLR;
• An increase in the Age-Friendly community programmes and health and wellbeing activities provided in the coming years by the Southside Partnership, DLR Sports Partnership, dlr Leisure Services, Making Connections etc.;
• An increase in older people’s accommodation, supports and services provided by the Housing Section of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council with Universal Design underpinning the Strategy in the provision of age-friendly public realm, housing, community centres, buildings, parks, pavements and in the planning process throughout the county and tourism and heritage opportunities developed and supported over the coming years;
• Expansion of the HSE supported meals on wheels, home support service, day services, step down and Integrated Care Teams and Programmes as well as the provision of SláinteCare funding and support to many initiatives such as social prescribing, supporting ageing at home, befriending and volunteering services provided by Making Connections, ALONE and other groups across the county;
• dlr Volunteer Centre growing and expanding its support to many Age-Friendly activities and older volunteers and the dlr Public Participation Network supporting the age-friendly community and voluntary sector in dlr;
• The development and growth of the Age-Friendly Business Recognition Programme delivered through the Economic Development Unit of the County Council, the annual Age-Friendly Chamber Awards, new age-friendly products and service development and collaborative actions to improve the job readiness of older people facing barriers to employment;
• Adult education, digital skills and supports, literacy support and life-long learning opportunities being provided and further developed by the Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board, dlr Library Services, IADT, UCD and ALONE;
• Further Age-friendly transport and mobility provision by Dublin Bus, Go Ahead, the Bike Hub, active travel further developed and a Transport Sub-Group to be established to address the gaps in transport provision to older people in dlr;
• The dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 aims also to hear and support the voices of older marginalised people, including older members of the Traveller community, older migrants, older people living with disabilities and in areas identified as disadvantaged and older members of the LGBTQI community living in dlr;
• the ongoing production of the annual dlr Age-Friendly Magazine and the biennial Age Well Expo, which will return this year on Sunday, 11th June 2023 in Leopardstown Racecourse Pavilion;
• the continued growth and development of the dlr Older People’s Council in representing groups from across the county and providing information and funding to active retirement and voluntary groups and the authentic voice of older people living in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown;
• The delivery of the Public Sector Equality & Human Rights Duty of all public funded organisations is recognised in this Strategy;
• UCD will expand its provision of opportunities as a university for all and IADT providing its campus for older people’s activities and services;
• The community and Age-Friendly work of an Garda Síochána and the Garda Older Person’s Association (GOPA) to be further developed over the coming years with initiatives and projects such as the Senior Alarm Scheme, Senior Text Alert, Public Safety & Security Seminars etc.

Further information available from:
Siobhán Nic Gaoithín, Age-Friendly Programme Manager & Social Inclusion Officer with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council at 01 205 4893 / community@dlrcoco.ie

dlr Age-Friendly Magazine 2023

The DLRCC Community & Cultural Development Department and dlr Age-Friendly Alliance are delighted to launch the 2023 dlr Age-Friendly Magazine.

for dlr Age Friendly Magazine 2023.

This is the third year of the dlr Age Friendly magazine, and this free resource is packed with information, creative writing, recipes, activities and guidance on the supports and services available to older people across Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

The 2023 magazine will be available in hard copy from dlr Libraries, dlr County Council offices, community centres, primary care centres, churches, nursing homes, day care centres and shopping centres around the county.

If you would like a copy sent to you in the post, ring the Community Section, Community & Cultural Development Dept, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire on (01) 205 4893 / email community@dlrcoco.ie

The 2023 dlr Age Friendly magazine is produced by the dlr Age-Friendly Programme, the Community Section of dlr County Council and dlr Libraries and is funded by Creative Ireland, Healthy Ireland and the dlr County Council Community & Cultural Development department.

dlr Age-Friendly Alliance

The dlr Age-Friendly Alliance is a strategic partnership that was set up in 2014 to work collaboratively on supporting older people in the County and to lead on dlr Age-Friendly Strategy development and implementation.  The Alliance is made up of representatives from Age-Friendly Ireland, ALONE, An Garda Síochána, dlr County Council, dlr Drugs & Alcohol Taskforce, dlr Older People’s Council, dlr Public Participation Network (PPN), dlr Volunteer Centre, Dublin Bus, Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board, Dún Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce, HSE, Institute of Art, Design + Technology, Dún Laoghaire (IADT), Go-Ahead Ireland, Irish Senior Citizen’s Parliament, Living Well with Dementia, Making Connections, Southside Partnership DLR, Southside Travellers Action Group and UCD. 

The Alliance meets 4 times a year and is currently chaired by Eugene Magee, the former Chairperson of the Board of Leopardstown Park Hospital, current member of the Governing Authority of Maynooth University and resident of Blackrock.

dlr Older People's Council (OPC)

The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Older People's Council was established as ‘Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Network for Older People’ in 2001. The dlr OPC is a representative committee of and for older people, with some 40 member groups, clubs and associations across the county and is open to all non-commercial groups, organisations and  individuals, committed to improving the quality of life of older people in the county.

Some members of the dlr OPC pictured in April 2022. 

The role of the dlr OPC is to:
• identify priority areas of need and to speak with a unified authentic voice on matters of concern for older people in dlr,
• inform and influence the decision-making process of the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance & dlr Age-Friendly Programme,
• represent the diversity that exists among our ageing population in dlr,
• participate in the National Committee of Older People’s Council’s.

Every year, the dlr Older People’s Council run a Small Transport Grant and Events Grant Scheme for its registered member groups to help cover the cost of transport and organising events during the year as well as arranging an annual event and AGM for its member groups.  Member groups also receive regular updates on events, activities and funding opportunities and membership of the OPC is free of charge and open to all older people’s groups, clubs, associations, Day Care Centres, Nursing Homes, designated older persons accommodation etc. located in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
The dlr OPC works in co-operation with and receives funding from the Community Section of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and is part of the national Age-Friendly Ireland Programme.  The dlr OPC committee meet on a monthly basis in County Hall, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and from time to time, in the Dundrum area.  The dlr OPC have the support of a part-time Administrator, Maria Cullen and Maria is located in the designated OPC Office located in 88 Inagh Court, Ballybrack, open every morning from 9a.m – 12.30p.m and also supplying photocopying and shredder services at a much-reduced rate to our member groups.

Currently the dlr Older People’s Council Committee are looking for new members, especially in the western side of the county, who are committed to improving the quality of life of older people in dlr.  Please support us as we continue our work to enhance the quality of life for older people living in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Transport Assistance Grant 2023: The dlr OPC Transport Assistance Small Grants Scheme worth €200 per group supports older people’s groups, clubs and associations in the county with the costs of organising day/evening excursions and trips during 2023. The funding for this project has been granted by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Age-Friendly Programme and the application form and details are available Click Here

The dlr Older People's Council Membership Application Form for Age-Friendly Groups, Clubs and Associations is available HERE. It is free to register and become a member group of the dlr OPC. 

dlr Older People’s Council Bealtaine 2023 Small Grant: The dlr OPC are also offering a Small Grant of €100 to all registered Age-Friendly groups, clubs and associations to assist in hosting an activity / event during the month of May as part of the Bealtaine – Celebrating Creativity at Older Age Festival, which takes place annually during May, organised by Age & Opportunity and see application form and details Click Here

dlr ACORN Tablet

The ACORN tablet is available to loan from dlr Libraries providing age-friendly, easy-to-use technology. The ACORN tablet is designed with the older person in mind, and the principle behind the tablet is to provide more accessible options for those with little or no computer or smart device experience. The home screen is clear and easy to navigate.

ACORN tablets are now available for lending to all dlr Library members. For more information on this lending scheme, contact your local branch.

Ronnie Delany, dlr Age-Friendly Ambassador