Congratulations to the HSE Living Well at Home Group established under the HSE Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) on winning the 2024 Age Friendly Communication Award (sponsored by An Post) for the development of the Directory of Supports and Services for Older People in Laois and Offaly.
Following consultation with older people living in the Midlands, it was decided that a directory was required. The directory necessitated consultation with HSE service providers, local authorities, voluntary and community groups, and older persons. Older people representatives informed the content and design of the directory. This project was led by Dr Mary Doolan, Amanda Caulfield, and Mari Fitzgerald.
The collaborative approach adopted between the hospital and community as well as other agency involvement, and the inclusion of older people informed the design and content that attracted the attention and secured this award.
Other projects in this category were Living Well – A Health and Wellbeing Information Event (healthy Laois and Age Friendly Laois), End of Life Planning – Getting People Talking (Irish Hospice Foundation), and Emerging into the Sunlight – Upskilling volunteers in mentoring callers to resume life after Covid (Senior Line).
Sarah McCormack, HSE National Healthy Ireland Lead, who collaborates with Age Friendly Ireland to develop Health and Wellbeing initiatives for older People, was delighted to meet Mary, Amanda, and Mari and share this success at Ireland’s National Age Friendly Recognition & Achievement Awards 2024 event.
The Directory is available to download at https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/olderpeople/directory-of-health-care-and-social-care-supports-for-older-people-in-laois-and-offaly.pdf.
Longford and Westmeath directory is available at hse-directory-of-supports-and-services-for-older-people-in-longford-and-westmeath.pdf and Cork City and County available at olderpeople/directory-of-supports-and-services-for-older-people-in-cork-city-and-county.pdf.