22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 5 December 2019
DUBLIN SENIORS
This week, we look at housing aid, the grants for physical activity and the dangers of falls and fractures
Housing Aid for Older People Scheme
Sports grants to promote physical activity in older people The Go for Life National Grant Scheme is celebrating a momentous allocation of funding for sporting activities in older age-groups. The grants scheme, a combined initiative from Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland, will distribute over €300,000 across 1,084 groups. This allocation brings the total grant fund allocated to date to over €6 million. The National Grant Scheme provides an accessible and enjoyable means for older people in communities nationwide to reap the health rewards from doing physical activity. Brendan Griffin, Minister of State with responsibility for Sport, said: “I am delighted to see that almost €300,000 has been allocated by Sport Ireland to the Go for Life grants to over one thousand groups this year. This means that 33,000 older people will take part in sport and physical activity as a direct result of this grant scheme. “Over the last eighteen years, the National Grant Scheme funding has supported and empowered thousands of groups of older people to get more active more often and the record number of applications this year shows the continued importance of the scheme for groups throughout the country. Go for Life is doing a wonderful job of providing opportunities for older people to enjoy all the benefits that participation can bring.” Karen Smyth, CEO of Age & Opportunity, said: “Today’s grant funding is helping us create an Ireland, where all older people are more active and more connected and the allocation of grants ensured clubs and groups from all walks of life could benefit from the scheme.” Of the successful funding allocations, 243 grants were awarded to Active Retirement Associations, 278 grants were awarded to Irish Countrywomen’s Associations and 21 applications were made by Local Sports Partnerships. Other funding allocations included: 33 Men’s Sheds’ groups; 2 Women’s Shed’s groups (for the first time); 11 Arthritis Ireland initiatives; 16 Irish Wheelchair Association groups; and activities for 22 Family Resource Centres. The Grant Scheme is part of Age & Opportunity’s ‘Go for Life’ programme, funded by Sport Ireland, and delivered nationwide with the support of Local Sports Partnerships and the HSE.
THE HOUSING Aid for Older People Scheme is used to improve the condition of an older person’s home. In general, it is aimed at people 66 years of age and older, who are living in poor housing conditions. However, in cases of genuine hardship the local authority may assist people under age 66. If you have a disability and your home needs to be adapted to make it more accessible, the Ho u s i n g Ad a p ta t i o n Grant for People with a
Disability or the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme may be more suitable for you. VAT refunds are available on aids and appliances used by people with disabilities. This refund scheme also applies to the cost of installation work. Rules Local authorities have been instructed that only essential repairs should be undertaken to make the property habitable for the applicant. Local authorities vary as regards what type of work they will grant aid
under the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. You should check with your own local authority to see which types of work its scheme will cover. The type of work that is grant aided can include some or all of the following: n Structural repairs or improvements n Dry-lining n Repair or replacement of windows and doors n The provision of water, sanitary services and heating
n
ing
Cleaning and paint-
n Radon remediation n Re-wiring
n Any other repair or improvement work considered necessary. Many older people may be eligible for the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme. However, priority will be given to people on the basis of financial need. Means Test Your total household income is assessed to find out if you qualify for the grant and at what level of
assistance. When applying for the grant, you must provide evidence of ownership of the property and evidence that the Local Property Tax on it has been paid. How to apply Download an application form from your local authority’s website or ask for one to be posted to you. Contact the Housing Section of your local authority for information about the eligibility rules in your area, which may differ from those in other local authority areas.
NATIONAL FALLS AND BONE HEALTH PROJECT FALLS ARE a challenge for older people and a significant and costly cause of injury. The original AFFINITY project commenced in 2013, to deliver the vision described in the National Strategy for Prevention of Falls and Fractures in Ireland’s Ageing Population. The senior stakeholders agreed in the latter half of 2016 that the project needed to be re-focused in light of changes in HSE structures, and the need to significantly scale up implementation of falls and fracture prevention. AFFINITY 2018-2023 has been set up to bring renewed focus, coordination and clear direction to the spectrum of falls and fracture prevention service
improvement initiatives currently underway in the community, and within acute services across the country. Aim Reducing harm from falls requires not just a single discipline or service, but rather a whole community and a range of services including health services. The aim of the AFFINITY
National Falls and Bone Health Project (2018-2023) is to coordinate the development of a comprehensive falls and fracture prevention system. Such a system involves all parties focusing on a common agenda of reducing falls and fractures and their impacts, by bringing together and integrating primary prevention, secondary prevention and rehabilitation
as well as measuring outcomes collectively. The intent is to increase awareness of the preventable nature of falls and to enable older people, communities and health and social care providers to reduce the risk and rate of falling where possible, to reduce the severity of injuries and to promote the best possible outcomes for people who have suffered a fall-related injury. Further information on AFFINITY 2018 - 2023 is available from: Eileen Moriarty, HSE Lead on Affinity National Falls and Bone Health Project Telephone: 021 4923194 Mobile: 086 7871707 Email: Eileen.Moriarty@hse.ie