Health, Housing & Transport - Improving life for older people in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown!

Speaking at the launch, Councillor Mary Hanafin, An Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said

“I am confident that the dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 will without doubt improve the experiences of the increasing number of older people living in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.  The Strategy, designed to meet the needs of all and to meet the demands of a digital age has, at its heart, the underpinning vision, mission, values and strategic priorities to frame a flexible, inclusive and inter-generational action agenda to enhance dlr’s ‘age friendliness for all’ over the coming years.

I congratulate all the member organisations and groups of the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance, the members of the dlr Older People’s Council and the Community Section of dlr County Council who have drawn together this strategy.  I wish the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance well in implementing the Strategy so that we can best support, plan and respond to the needs of our older citizens in dlr over the coming years.

Actions included in the Strategy:

• Continued development of age-friendly and dementia inclusive events & activities
• Increase in Age-Friendly health and community programmes
• Increase in older people’s accommodation, supports and services
• Expansion of the HSE supported meals on wheels, home support service, day services, integrated care teams and programmes
• Further Age-friendly transport and mobility provision by Dublin Bus, Go Ahead, the Bike Hub.
• Age Well Expo – June 2023
• Continued growth and development of the dlr Older People’s Council
• Age-friendly public realm, community centres, parks, pavements and included in the planning process throughout the county
• Increase in Age-friendly adult education, digital skills and supports, literacy support and life-long learning opportunities

Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

“Built upon the extensive achievements of our first Age-Friendly Strategy 2016 - 2020, this new strategy is informed by the many diverse voices of older people throughout the county and is guided by extensive consultation with the public, our stakeholders and partners resulting in a more holistic Age-Friendly Strategy focused on our people, our places and our communities, and which recognises that our success is founded on our collective capacity to work together effectively and in harmony.

Our shared mission of dlr as ‘a vibrant place where people can thrive and fulfil their potential in their local communities and neighbourhoods throughout their lives’, is dependent upon us working well together to incrementally improve our physical environment, our social environment and the quality of our joined-up services to ensure that older people experience health, well-being and fulfilment in their local communities.”

The dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 is part of the National Age-Friendly Ireland programme affiliated to the global World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Network.  Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown have an Age-Friendly Alliance co-operating at county level to improve the quality of life of older people in the county and to prepare for the rapid ageing of our population by paying increased attention to the environmental, economic and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults.  We also have an an Age-Friendly Programme Manager who will implement our local strategy. 

Launching the dlr Age-Friendly Strategy, Minister Mary Butler stated that:

"Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown should be very proud of their leading role in ensuring older people in their communities thrive and fulfil their potential. The new strategy here today reflects the commitment and future ambition in this area.

With more than 60 age friendly actions identified by dozens of groups and organisations, the strategy certainly reflects many diverse voices of older people throughout the county. As I often note, the voice and choice of older people should be heard and be central to our planning and decision making.

As a Government, we are committed to creating an age friendly Ireland and to supporting older people to live independently in their homes and communities for as long as possible. In 2023, our overall investment in older persons services will be over €2.4 billion. This ensures that each day, older people in our communities are supported to live independently through key services such as day care centres, meals-on-wheels and home support".

The dlr Age-Friendly Strategy 2022-2026 is available to view here.  Hard copies are also available in the 8 Libraries across the county and with the member organisations of the dlr Age-Friendly Alliance.

For futher information please contact commsoffice@dlrcoco.ie

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