SAOI Network – Duhallow Actively Retired Groups
SAOI Network Members of Liscarroll Club in With a significantly ageing population supporting attendance at the SAOI Older & Bolder Annual Conference. those in the third age is a key priority for IRD Duhallow and we achieve this through a multi-faceted approach to independent living of older people. The co-ordinated and complimentary services of Duhallow Meals on Wheels, IRD Duhallow Warmer Homes, Community Laundry, Care & Repair, Friendly Phone Call Service all support us to achieve this. Our network of 21 groups advocated for the needs of older people in the region and a programme of events is rolled out annually. Covid Response Cocooning… a term since March 2020 is now synonymous with our elderly isolating themselves for their own safety. No longer is the weekly bingo session taking place, mass is now virtual, they cannot collect their pension or weekly shopping. We know from our work with older people that loneliness and fear are common issues. When the country went into lockdown we reacted quickly to put additional measures in place to ensure older people were safe in their own homes and supported to live independently. Our staff were redeployed to Duhallow social enterprises which expanded the essential services they already provide to cope with the increased demand due to Covid 19 including our meals on wheels service, community laundry and friendly phone call service. Our friendly phonecall service supported in excess of 700 cocooned people, we delivered 1,000 meals a week while also providing laundry, shopping and fuel deliveries for the elderly.
Alice Taylor officially Seniors Conference opens the Saoi Older For the third year running the Saoi Network held their and Bolder Conference in Duhallow Seniors Older and Bolder Seniors Miscellany Newmarket with over 200 in attendance on the day . Conference in November 2019 which was full to capacity with almost 200 people in attendance. The event was facilitated by Network Chairman Jack Roche and officially opened by Newmarket native and renowned author Alice Taylor who gave an entertaining presentation on the history of Newmarket. Speakers on the day included Pauline Lynch of Diabetes Ireland and Seamus de Faoite of Cork County Council on the various Housing and Mobility Grants available. Sharon Morrissey from Family Mediation spoke about grandparents’ rights and entitlements and the benefits of family mediation. Frank Fahey Cork Sports Partnership and Sharon McGillicuddy, HSE spoke on the importance of actively ageing and exercise for older. Caitriona Dunlea and Mary Howard from Irish Ancestry Direct demonstrated how to start researching your family tree and Helen O’Sullivan IRD Duhallow spoke on the supports we offer older people. This conference also received funding from Cork Sports Partnership and the HSE and lunch was catered for all by Duhallow Community Food Services. After lunch attendees were treated to a ‘Getting Active Taster Session. Members of the Saoi Network undertook Governance Training with the Carmichael Center as part of a full training package the Network advocates for actively retired groups to participate in.
Tureencahill 2019 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards Tureencahill Actively Retired Association welcomed the Members of Tureencahill Choir who gave a warm judges of the National Age welcome to both judges and local support on the day of Friendly Recognition Awards judging in Tureencahill Heritage Center for the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards to their centre in October 2019. Full to capacity with local support the committee showcased how since 2014 through the development of the old school into a heritage centre a new sense of community life has been brought to the area making it a focal point for all. The ARA gave a detailed presentation to judges on how it acts as a social outlet for the over 50s offering various activities, courses, a choir and inter-generational projects. All of which helps to combat loneliness and isolation with their group now having a membership of over 60 members, from Tureencahill, Gneeveguilla, Rathmore, Knocknagree, and Ballydesmond, meeting weekly. The judges commended all involved in the ARA and centre committee and acknowledged how unique and innovative they were. The ARA attended an awards ceremony in Croke Park where they received a recognition award for their voluntary work. Senior Alert Scheme (SAS) IRD Duhallow are registered with Pobal to deliver the Senior Alert Scheme to householders over 66 years of age. Eileen Fleming Gneeveguilla with Hilary Scanlon HSE & Tony Taggart and Ann Qualifying householders receive a free Marie Lynch of Kerry County Council in alarm or pendant which can be worn Tureencahill for a morning of presentations around the wrist or neck. When pressed it as part of the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards connects wirelessly to a base unit which is linked to your landline or mobile phone. This base unit immediately sends a call to a 24-hour monitoring centre. The equipment is supplied and installed free of charge along with one year’s free monitoring. After one year, the householder must pay the monitoring fee ranging from €65 to €137. To date, over 360 applications have been approved by Pobal and installation of the alarms by Tunstall Emergency Response is on-going. We continue to promote this service through the SAOI Network, Duhallow Revamp, Duhallow Community Laundry, DCFS and the Community Care group. Future Proofing proper supports for older people Too often in the past when the economy gets tight we have noticed that the over 65’s are dropped from the national agenda and from local development programme budgets, replaced with a focus on economic activation. With another hard recession looming we want to ensure that this time, recovery is not based on sacrificing the older generation’s needs for improved living conditions and quality of life. At a sub county level structures need to be put in place to aid the growing elderly population to live independently in their own homes and communities. Supports such as sheltered housing accommodation in towns and villages will play a major role in achieving this and there are pockets of areas without any such accommodation and existing facilities already full to capacity and not in a position to expand. Add to this the provision of other adequate supports such as meals on wheels for all communities, a laundry service and friendly phone call care and repair service and older people will be in a much better position to live longer healthier lives in their own communities. By putting such structures in place at local community level the government would save money long term, improve the lives of older people and help create jobs locally. Each Local Development Company should be funded to employ a Development Officer specifically to work with and support older people in communities. Demographically we know Ireland has an increasing elderly population with rural Ireland and places like Duhallow having the highest concentrations and that number is set to increase dramatically in the next ten years. The government needs to start putting the necessary infrastructure in place now so that we will be able to deliver steadily over the next decade.
REMEMBERING NOREEN O’REGAN
Saoi Vice Chairperson Noreen O’Regan bravely lost her battle to a long term illness this past year. Noreen represented the Donoughmore ARA and was a passionate and vocal activist for older people and community and rural development in general. She will be missed by all her friends on the Saoi Network and beyond.
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