Kilkenny is on its way to becoming the first age friendly county in the south.
Áine Brady, Minister for Older People and Health Promotion, launched the Kilkenny Age Friendly County Programme, marking the beginning of a six month countywide consultation and awareness-raising exercise to develop an age friendly strategy for Kilkenny on Friday.
The development of the programme is being led by an interim alliance, hosted by Kilkenny County Development Board.
“The Government is committed to a society in which older people are encouraged and supported in their efforts to live healthy, fulfilling, independent lives in their own homes and communities for as long as possible,” Minister Brady said at the launch.
“In the past, policy relating to older people tended to focus on health and social care issues,” he added. “However, as a range of factors impact on older people’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life, all sectors of society have a role to play.
“We must all take greater account of the experience, aspirations, and preferences of older people when designing and delivering policies, programmes, and services, to ensure that older people are not excluded from developments that could enhance their quality of life.”
Also speaking at the event, county council chairman Michael O’Brien welcomed the Minister and other high profile speakers to the event.
“I am pleased to have the high calibre of speakers present here today particularly Áine Brady Minister of State with responsibility for Older People and Health Promotion, John Beard, MBBS PhD, director of ageing and life course, World Health Organisation, Mary Doyle, assistant secretary general at the Department of An Taoiseach and chairperson of the Ageing Well Network National Integration and Implementation Group of the National Age Friendly Counties Programme,” he said.
“We have worked hard over the past few months to ensure that Kilkenny will be the second county in Ireland to become an age friendly county. This follows on from the very successful implementation of the initial national Age-Friendly County programme in County Louth.
“This is the start of a planned process to make Kilkenny the first age friendly county also in the southeast region. What follows will be a major county wide consultation exercise with the older people living in Kilkenny.”
At the end of the consultation a strategy will be drawn together that outlines how Kilkenny can become age friendly and what age friendly can be for its citizens.
“The following key areas to be prioritised,” he said. “A more equitable and efficient health care system; better supports for independent living; a home for the elderly in Kilkenny, as a satellite unit of St Columba’s Hospital; better transport facilities, particularly in rural areas; resource centres designed to meet the needs of older people.
“Much of this has been achieved since 2002 and it is hoped that under the Age Friendly County Initiative and a renewed consultation process we can achieve much more and make Kilkenny a place in which to grow old with dignity and respect as well as a place to have peace of mind and overall wellbeing.”
He pointed out that Kilkenny has a long standing reputation for the development of innovative voluntary supports for those with physical and intellectual special needs.
“Kilkenny local authorities are more than willing to embrace this Age-Friendly County Initiative, aimed at achieving much valued improvements in quality of life, quality of services and of the environment – but most importantly quality of esteem for older people as valuable members of society.
“We are honoured to host this World Health Organisation-recognised age-friendly project, supported by The Department of the Taoiseach,” he concluded.
