MICHAEL HARDING AND CHARLIE MCGETTIGAN LAUNCH LEITRIM AGE FRIENDLY STRATEGY
Leitrim Age Friendly Strategy 2017-2020.pdf (size 2.5 MB)
The Leitrim Age Friendly Strategy 2017-2020 was officially launched by novelist Michael Harding during Positive Aging Week last Wednesday. The event, which took place in Lough Allen Hotel, Drumshanbo, was organised by The Leitrim Age Friendly Alliance, a multi-agency voluntary partnership.
The event was a celebration of older people. Both Michael Harding and Charlie McGettigan regaled the audience with some wonderful stories and music. Michael spoke eloquently on the issue of social isolation and loneliness and urged people to avail of the many services provided.
Speaking at the event Cathaoirleach Finola Armstrong Maguire said ‘ Our vision is to develop an inclusive, equitable county in which we will all be able to live full, active, valued and healthy lives’
Chairperson of the Alliance, Joseph Gillhooly, outlined the detailed consultation process that took place with older people and all key service to identify how we can make Leitrim an even better place to live as we grow older. He said it was wonderful to see so many positives to living in Leitrim such as Hospital Car Scheme, Rural Transport, Active Age Groups, RISE and Rossinver Calling to name but a few.
Catherine McGuigan, National Age Friendly Programme Co-Ordinator said she was delighted to see the very detailed and ambitious plan under the World Health Organisations eight themes, including issues such as accessibility, rural transport, housing, social participation, respect, community support and health services and communication.
For further information, please contact Suzanne Duffy, Age Friendly Co-Ordinator, Leitrim County Council on 071-96 20005 or emailcommunity@leitrimcoco.ie
Leitrim Age Friendly County Alliance
The aim of the Leitrim Age Friendly County Initiative is to ensure that all the key agencies work together to promote and maintain the best possible health and well being of older people and to make County Leitrim itself a great place to grow old in.
The purpose of the Leitrim Age Friendly County Initiative is to increase the participation of older people in the social, economic and cultural life of Leitrim for everyone’s benefit, improve the health and well being of older people in the county and show how services and supports for older people can be made more responsive, caring, professional and accessible through imaginative and cost effective partnership working.
The Age Friendly County Initiative aims to create communities where people enjoy a good quality of life as they age and continue to participate fully in community life. The Programme is based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Age-Friendly Cities Framework and Guidelines, which were developed by 33 cities from across the world and involved a major consultation with older people. Leitrim County Council has formally endorsed the “Dublin Declaration” WHO Age Friendly County Initiative, which formally links the Initiative to the WHO.
In Ireland the initiative is being rolled out through the network of County and City Local Authorities. Every county authority has now signed up to the “Dublin Declaration” making Ireland the first official Age Friendly country amongst WHO member countries.
The Leitrim Age Friendly County Alliance was formally launched in January 2013. This was followed by a period of intensive consultation with older people and other relevant stakeholders, which enabled the Alliance to identify the key issues faced by older people in the county, along with creative suggestions for resolving these issues, which older people themselves provided.
The strategy 2014-2016 is available here.
Mohill Age Friendly Town plan here.