COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Tuesday, May 06, 2014
QUESTION NO.1
QUESTION: Councillor M. Devine
To ask that the Manager give a statement on this Councils endeavours to promote the County as "age friendly"?
REPLY:
In 2013, South Dublin received its designation as a WHO Age Friendly County. This followed an in-depth consultation process with older people and agencies and the development of the Age Friendly Strategy by the Age Friendly County Alliance. The strategy includes details of the many projects and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of older people that are already in place such as the annual Bealtaine Festival, the new exercise equipment in our Parks, and the many projects and events that take place in our libraries across the County. The strategy also includes details of plans for the future, including the establishment of an Older Person's Forum, a Business of Ageing Forum, and the development of Age Friendly Towns and Businesses across South Dublin. Throughout the process it was clear that the people of this County are living longer and healthier lives and want to be active in their communities and make a contribution. The actions included in the Age Friendly County Strategy will ensure that South Dublin continues to grow as a safe, healthy and positive place to live, and a great County in which to grow older. The following is the workplan of the Council Age Friendly Alliance.
Workplan:
| Theme | Action | Partners | Outcome | Update |
| Transportation | Older Person's Forum Representative on local public Transport Committees | Older Person's Forum Dublin Bus, Veolia, An Garda Síochána, SDCC | Older People's issues voiced at Local Public Transport Committees | Older Person's Forum representative not nominated to date |
| Transportation | Possibility for volunteer drivers and appointment pals for hospital outpatients to be explored | CareLocal, South Dublin County Volunteer Centre, Other NGOs | Feasibility of developing new service to be established | CareLocal currently rolling out programmes in South Dublin |
| Transportation | South Dublin Chamber to explore ways for businesses to engage in assisting the mobility of customers | South Dublin Chamber, Older Person's Forum, Local Businesses | Improved services for older people and potential increase in business for local service providers | Website / app under development by South Dublin Chamber – to be launched in March |
| Housing | Explore the possibility of establishing a committee to respond to the needs of older people in emergencies such as extreme weather conditions | SDCC, An Garda Síochána | Improved sense of security for older people in their homes, and improved coordination of services in emergencies | On the agenda of the next meeting of the Service Provider's Forum – committee may be established as a sub group |
| Housing | Explore the possibility of a Garda text alert service for older people | An Garda Síochána | Improved communication and security for older people living in the County | No update |
| Community Support and Health Services | Continued roll out of Primary Care Teams across the County | HSE | Improved coordination of health and social services | Roll out continuing – the possibility of mapping primary care teams in the County is being explored. |
| Community Support and Health Services | Frail Elderly Programme in Tallaght Hospital | Tallaght Hospital | Improved experience for older people attending Tallaght Hospital | Programme has commenced |
| Community Support and Health Services | Establish a Service Provider's Forum in South Dublin County | HSE, SDCC, An Garda Síochána, | Improved coordination of services, sharing of information and use of resources across the County | Group continues to meet |
| Community Support and Health Services | Establish a dementia friendly community in South Dublin | The Alzheimer's Society, The Ageing Well Network | Improved services and improved awareness of the needs of people with dementia those who care for them | Work on developing dementia friendly communities in South Dublin is ongoing |
| Respect, Social Inclusion and Participation | Older Person's Forum to become involved in Bealtaine Festival and Social Inclusion Week | Older Person's Forum, SDCC Community Services Department | Increased input of older people in the organisation and events | Older Person's Forum to organise an information sharing event to take place on May 1st at the launch of the annual Bealtaine celebrations |
| Respect, Social Inclusion and Participation | Panel of Older People to be established to work on the South Dublin Business Advice Line Initiative | South Dublin Chamber | New volunteering opportunity for older people who wish to share their skills and experience | This initiative is currently being developed in conjunction with the Ryan Institute |
| Respect, Social Inclusion and Participation | Learning Circles for recently retired business people to be established | South Dublin Chamber | Older People available to advise business people on how to thrive in a recession | This initiative is currently being developed in conjunction with the Ryan Institute |
| Civic Participation and Employment | 100 Older People to be recruited as County Ambassadors as part of the Gathering South Dublin 2013 | South Dublin Tourism, South Dublin County Volunteer Centre | New volunteering opportunity for 100 Older People developed | 40 volunteers have been recruited to date – training is scheduled to take place in early April |
| Civic Participation and Employment | Pre retirement courses to be provided by the Retirement Council of Ireland | Retirement Council of Ireland, Ageing Well Network | Older People to be given the opportunity to better prepare for retirement | To be provided at Beataine event |
| Civic Participation and Employment | Courses for older workers and employers of older workers | South Dublin Chamber | Better awareness of the needs of older workers in the workplace | To be developed |
| Civic Participation and Employment | Business of Ageing Forum to be established in South Dublin County to include an Age Friendly Business recognition scheme | South Dublin Chamber, Ageing Well Network | Increased awareness of the needs of Older People using local business and services | Pilot programme to commence in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in March 2013 |
| Communication and Information | Recommendations from the NALA Literacy Audit of SDCC to be followed up, including training for frontline staff to assist customers with literacy and numeracy difficulties. | SDCC | Improved customer services | Recommendations from report are being implemented by SDCC and staff training is taking place |
| Communication and Information | South Dublin County Older Person's Forum to be established | SDCC, Ageing Well Network | New opportunity for older people to be involved in decision making and influencing policy in the County | Older Person's Forum executive continues to meet and some new members have joined. A whole forum event is being planned for May 1st. |
| Communication and Information | Improved communications about special offers and services for older people from businesses in the County | South Dublin Chamber, Older Person's Forum | Increase in the number of older people using local businesses and services | Website and app to be launched by South Dublin |
As well as those actions outlined above in the Workplan, the annual Bealtaine Festival will be officially launched by the Mayor Dermot Looney in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday next, 1st May at 11.00a.m. The Bealtaine Festival celebrates "Creativity in Older Age" and is co-ordinated by Age and Opportunity, the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society.
SDCC has organised a number of events during the month of May to celebrate the festival and have produced a brochure to advertise events for older people during Bealtaine. There is an opportunity for everyone to try out something new, Some of the activities include crafts, computer classes, horticultural workshops, walking, tea dances and so on.
As a local authority, SDCC is putting in place the structures to address the changing needs of this segment of our population and work is ongoing to make Dublin an Age Friendly County. Much of the work with the elderly population in the County is carried out by volunteers all over the County. The Council has worked in partnership with many local organisations and statutory agencies to enhance the services for elderly people living here.