Louth Older People’s Forum Report Policy Day 9th Feb, Westcourt Hotel Background The Louth Age Friendly County Initiative was launched at a seminar by Dermot Ahern, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the 10th November 2008. Over 180 people attended the seminar and took part in the workshops held during it. The 16 workshops were asked “What would an Age Friendly County look like”. From the feedback areas of immediate concern were access to information on services for older people and the establishment of an Older People‟s Forum. The feedback also fed into the draft strategy for Older People. The draft strategy and the structure of the Louth Older People‟s Forum were presented to a follow up seminar in March 2009. Feedback on the strategy was recorded and the final Louth Age Friendly County Strategy was launched at a seminar on the 10th November 2009 after an extensive public consultation process which covered Drogheda, Ardee, Dundalk and Carlingford. The launch seminar was hosted and presented by the Louth Older People‟s Forum and once again older people in general were invited and their views were garnered on what priority areas the Louth Age Friendly Initiative should prioritise during the 2010 period. Louth Age Friendly Alliance The Louth Age Friendly Alliance (AFA) is a high level strategic group made up of officials from the local authority, the HSE, Ageing Well Network, SEI, the LOPF, Irish Council of Social Housing, the IFA, DkIT and the Netwell Centre and An Garda Siochana. The AFA is tasked with the overall implementation of the Louth Age Friendly County Strategy and forming strategic alliances to ensure its implementation. Louth Older People’s Forum (LOPF) The Louth Older People‟s Forum was established during 2009. The structure of the forum was agreed by Older People during 4 workshops held in Drogheda and Dundalk and comprises of Older People‟s Groups, Advocacy Groups, Nursing Homes, Day Care Centres and individuals. There are 66 people registered with the Forum to date. An executive working group of 12 people has been elected and has formally met on a monthly basis since its inception. Three countywide meetings of the wider Older People‟s Forum were held in 2009. The first significant action undertaken by the LOPF was the management and hosting of a seminar in November 2009 which officially launched the Louth Age Friendly County Strategy document and the Citizen‟s Information Services Directory of Services. The forum engaged in the transport audit public consultation process in December 2009. As part of the Terms of Reference of the LOPF it was agreed that the Forum would formulate an action plan on a yearly basis. The policy day run in the Westcourt Hotel was the first attempt at agreeing an action plan for 2010 and from general feedback the day was very successful.
Policy Day The purpose of the LOPF action plan is to: Allow the LOPF to actively engage in the implementation of the Age Friendly County Strategy To explore where the Age Friendly Alliance can compliment and supplement actions identified by the LOPF as priority in the strategy from a bottom up perspective. As result of the November workshops held during the seminar the following 6 priority areas were identified by the older people on the day: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Safety & Security Housing Aids for Older People Home Care Packages Transport Volunteering Sports
The process employed on the day included presentations in the morning session on all 6 areas followed by a semi-open space workshop process to agree relevant actions. The following presentations were included on the day: Vincent Jackson, Crime Prevention Officer, An Garda Siochana and Dave Turner, Drogheda Senior Citizenâ€&#x;s Group gave their account of what is currently important for older people in terms of safety and security. Catherine Vaughan, Senior Social Worker, LCC, and Andrea Connolly, Cuidigh Linn, Dundalk gave an account of what is available to older people through the Housing Aids for Older People and People with Disabilities and the Care and Repair service. Rodd Bond outlined the recent data on Home Care delivery and the resulting challenges to this service. Gerry Kelly, Senior Engineer, LCC and Kevin Traynor, Rural Transport Programme, Louth Leader Partnership informed the gathering on the recent report on transport service delivery and the benefits of the Rural Transport Programme respectively. Roisin Coffey gave an overview of the role of the Drogheda Volunteer Centre, soon to be branded Louth Volunteer Centre, and how it can support both older peopleâ€&#x;s groups and individuals should they wish to volunteer. Mary Browne, Louth Sports Partnership outlined the activities the Partnership provide for older people across the county. In the afternoon the workshop space was divided into 6 stations reflecting the 6 priority areas. Each station had a facilitator and expert voices to maximise the robustness of the actions. The following were the expert voices at each station:
Work Station Safety & Security
Housing Aids
Home Care
Transport Volunteering
Sports
Expert Voice Vincent Jackson, CPO, Catherine Rennick Community Garda Officer, Valerie Artherton, RAPID Coordinator, DBC, Dave Turner, Drogheda Senior Citizenâ€&#x;s Group Catherine Vaughan, SSW, LCC, Tony McDonald, LCC, Lynn Gaffney, LCC, Andrea Connolly, Cuidigh Linn, Rodd Bond, Dr Lucia Carragher, Ann Marron, Netwell Centre, Mike Rigney, Home Instead Gerry Kelly, SE, LCC, Kevin Traynor, RTP, LLP Roisin Coffey, Benedicta Attoh Drogheda Volunteer Centre, Harry McCarthy, Louth Community and Voluntary Forum, Anne Dempsey, Third Age Foundation. Mary Browne, Lisa Kelly, Cormac Magee, LSP, Noel Redmond LCC retired Sports Officer
Seventy six people registered on the policy day. The process followed a semi-open space format in that the areas for discussion were agreed at a previous seminar; however, free movement between stations was encouraged and assisted on the day. The facilitators were asked to achieve 3 strong robust actions that the LOPF could implement during 2010. The following matrix attempts to map the way forward.
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions
Tasks Set up an integrated subgroup consisting of the LOPF, An Garda Siochana, reps from Community Alert Groups and Neighbourhood Watch, Drogheda Senior Citizenâ€&#x;s, Cuidigh Linn
Who
Outcome An integrated approach to establishing what is being provided in Safety and Security in the county and how information can be disseminated to the maximum number of older people thus creating a general sense of safety and security in the county.
Greater information sharing and dissemination to vulnerable people on steps to ensure their safety and security.
Gather all information on safety and security advice and services in the county.
Safety & Security Subgroup
All Older People living in Louth would have access to information on traders and services so that they are no longer vulnerable to the rogue traders calling to homes in vans.
Safety in the community The Gardai, in cooperation with the Older Peopleâ€&#x;s Forum and other key agencies, will put in place a number of measures designed to make older people feel and be safer in their own communities.
Gather all information on Care and Repair services in the county. Gather all information on private care and repair services in the county.
Create Awareness among elderly on maintaining their own environment to avoid crime and promote security
Get all above information disseminated to maximum number of older people in the county. 1. Seminar 2. Radio & Media 3. Posters 4. Central Contact information hub.
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions Roving Session Increased training on crime prevention for visiting groups e.g. Community alert/ neighbourhood watch. Crime prevention training for Meals on Wheels and other volunteer groups/ individuals calling to elderly
Purse statutory Agencies Re: Improve lighting, garda visibility, recreational spacevigilance
Tasks Get list of all Community Alert groups and Neighbourhood Watch groups in the county.
Who Safety & Security Subgroup and identified groups
Outcome The maximum number of groups facilitating older people received up-to-date training
Safety & Security Subgroup and identified groups
Awareness of older people in terms of safety and security in their own community and channels identified to highlight the problems to the relevant agencies
Get list of all Meals on Wheel groups and other groups who visit older people in the county. Convene meeting of all groups with LOPF. Establish if and what training is needed to make older people more safe and secure when receiving personal calls from groups and also to protect the person calling. Agree with the Community Alert groups and Neighbourhood Watch groups in the county to identify the black spots in the county in terms of safety and security Present to AFA
How Age Friendly County Alliance can compliment the Safety and Security in the Action Plan 1. Facilitate and support members of the subgroup to participate in subgroupâ€&#x;s actions 2. Explore the accreditation scheme where traders can be vetted and accredited under the Age Friendly County Scheme 3. Carry out any work that needs to be done to make black spots safer and secure for older people.
Strategic Action Safety & Security contd.
Policy Day Actions Submission from O.P.F. for state grant aid for burglar alarm installation sensory lights, locks, garda integrated comprehensive system.
Tasks Gather all information from above actions.
Who Safety & Security Subgroup
Outcome Submission submitted
Hold a focus group session with older peopleâ€&#x;s groups and Community Alert groups and Neighbourhood Watch groups Write up submission
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions
Tasks Set up Home Adaptations Subgroup, LCC, Housing personnel, Drogheda Senior Citizenâ€&#x;s, Cuidigh Linn, SEI
Who
Outcome An integrated approach to establishing what is being provided in Home Adaptations in the county and how information can be disseminated to the maximum number of older people.
Further Information provision re: Existing Schemes that are currently available
Collate information on all housing aids services in the county.
Subgroup
All information on housing aids available to the maximum number of older people in the county with an agreed integrated delivery approach between partners to clients
Home adaptations Louth County Council and the HSE will simplify and speed up the process for supporting and funding home adaptations, so that more people can continue living independently in their own homes or in supported accommodation.
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions Tasks To link in SEI re: Insulation Collate all information on SEI of houses & Promote grants same
Who Subgroup
Investigate the development of a Cuidigh Linnâ€&#x; (Care and Repair) type project for Rural Areas
Subgroup
Explore all avenues on how Care and Repair can be achieved and delivered on a county basis.
Outcome Maximum number of older people aware of SEI grants through the above information and delivery channels Maximum number of older people in Louth availing of Care and Repair Service and not being victims of rogue traders.
Explore the possibility to align with PHN areas. Draft proposal and bring to AFA How Age Friendly County Alliance can compliment the Housing Aids for Older People in the Action Plan 1. 2. 3. 4.
Facilitate and support members of the subgroup to participate in subgroupâ€&#x;s actions Convey result of LCC Housing Study to LOPF and subgroups. Explore how Care and Repair can be extended to the entire county. Other counties operate through the Area Based Partnerships. Explore how Care and Repair areas can be aligned to PHN areas and local authority areas.
Strategic Action
Home Care Staying at Home The Alliance will prioritise efforts to enable older people live in their own homes and communities. Louth County Council and the HSE will work together to reconfigure how some resources, currently given to long-term residential care, might be used to support people living at home or in supported accommodation and how they might be tailored to peopleâ€&#x;s needs as they change over time.
Policy Day Actions Mixed Care Model
Tasks Collate all information on private and public HCP in Louth.
Who
Examine models in terms of, management, efficiency, quality of service, prevention, technology etc
Outcome A comprehensive outline of the public and private HCPs available in Louth and the challenges presented to the models and the older person.
Grant for home care is person- directed every older person with approved hours offer HCP.
Explore if a model can include a grant directed to older persons so that flexibility in choice for the older person is achieved
Workable model of HCPs which can offer flexibility and options to older people
Promotion of National Guidelines that reflect local needs
Submit the model through the AFA to promote national guidelines that reflect local needs
Model submitted.
How Age Friendly County Alliance can compliment the Home Care Package for Older People in the Action Plan 1. Secure a researcher or a study to work with the AFA and the LOPF on the HCPs available in Louth. 2. Support submission to national level.
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions
Personalised transport Taxi Voucher and the use of bus passes services The Age Friendly County Office (see p.22) will develop a personalised transport programme for isolated older people who have no access to public transport. It will be based on models that have worked well elsewhere, such as „Driving Miss Daisy‟ or ITN (Independent Transportation Network) arrangements, in which older people‟s organisations provide volunteer drivers to take people to engagements such as hospital appointments. These drivers, who are sometimes given a small fee, are trained to explore other needs the older person may have, and to link them into existing social networks.
Tasks Meet with Taxi Companies and explore the possibility of using buss passes in Taxis and other areas where discounts can be examined.
Who LOPF
Explore the possibility of using the “Nice One Card” for over 65s to garner discounts from Taxi companies in Dundalk.
LOPF and Dundalk TCCM
Outcome A first stage in accrediting other transport options to cater for personalised transport options for older people.
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions Shared Services- Private/ Public service links in Towns/ Rurally
Accessibility in terms of schedule times Specified vehicle to meet demand Getting on/off bus- lower steps/ Wheelchair etc (Maintenance of buses).
Tasks Assess the Transport Audit and explore if and where areas of concern need to be examined in terms of transport for older people including a local questionnaire and liaising with local community groups Present proposals to AFA for consideration and to further action at national level should it require such action. Develop an accreditation scheme for good public and private transport companies so that they can be accredited under the Age Friendly County Initiative.
Who LOPF in partnership with LLP RTP
Outcome A greater fluidity in transport availability for older people in the county both individuals and groups.
LOPF & AFA
An accreditation scheme relevant to public and private transport companies.
How Age Friendly County Alliance can compliment the Transport for Older People in the Action Plan 1. Inform the LOPF of the content and relevancy of the Transport Audit carried out by LCC. (Possibility for joint meeting between the AFA and the LOPF) 2. Explore how best to engage the private and public transport companies in developing linked and shared services between private and pubic companies. 3. Support findings at national level should action require so. 4. Develop an accreditation scheme for transport companies, buses and taxis.
Strategic Action
Volunteer programme The Louth Age Friendly County Office will work with the main volunteer organisations in the county to increase opportunities for older people to volunteer their services, matching peopleâ€&#x;s interest with the volunteering opportunities available.
Policy Day Actions Develop Ardee as an Age Friendly County Town.
Tasks Develop a group in Ardee to create a vision for making Ardee an Age Friendly County Town.
Who Ardee Subgroup of LOPF
Outcome Ardee with a population of less than 5,000 people will build on its own strengths to develop a social, cultural and economic age friendly approach to embracing its older people.
Dundalk Subgroup of Older Peopleâ€&#x;s Forum
Dundalk with a population of approx 30,000 people will build on its own strengths to develop a Positive Ageing Town similar to the Drogheda experience. A volunteer structure which can be aligned to other area teams in the county
Set up links with 4 Wexford Age Friendly County Towns to mentor and support each other in future endeavours. Link with Summerhill Third Age Foundation. Create the vision with the support and help of Third Age Foundation.
Develop Dundalk as a PAW town
Centre to increase communication, awareness and visibility
Develop a group in Dundalk to create a vision for making Dundalk a PAW Town. Submit the plan to Age Action Ireland Develop areas, if possible aligned to PHN and Home Care areas to create awareness of local volunteers. Create a model for discussion with AFA
LOPF and Louth Volunteer Centre
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions Skills audit of potential older volunteers- Forum to connect with active retirement groups.
Tasks Develop a skills audit for older people in conjunction with the Netwell Centre DkIT.
Who LOPF and the Netwell Centre
Carry out skills audit in Ardee Town as a pilot to supplement the Ardee Age Friendly County Town Initiative
Ardee subgroup and graduates
Outcome A skills profile of older people in the Ardee area which can be drawn on to promote and develop Ardee as an Age Friendly Town. A transferable model that can be taken up by other areas (geographical and thematic) to develop the Age Friendly County Initiative through all aspects of volunteerism.
How Age Friendly County Alliance can compliment Volunteering for Older People in the Action Plan 1. Support the endeavours of Ardee and Dundalk to develop Age Friendly Initiatives that will bring both towns up to the Drogheda standard. 2. Explore where geographical areas can be aligned to make communications and delivery of all services including volunteering more efficient and effective, areas such as PHN areas, local authority areas, transports areas etc
Strategic Action
Older people’s local sports programme The Local Sports Partnership will develop an older people‟s sports programme with the aims of (i) increasing the number of older people actively engaged in sports and (ii) recruiting people shortly before they retire and thereafter as coaches, referees and other volunteers in sports organisations.
Policy Day Actions Develop walking groups through dissemination of information and supporting local group formation
Tasks Meet delegation of GAA County Board to brain storm ideas in relation to setting up local walking groups.
Who LOPF and GAA
Explore the Daver centre as a centre of excellence as hub for walking training leaders, dissemination of information and possible inter-county exchanges.
“Sports” EquipmentSupplier Information
Collate information on sports and suppliers of equipment and disseminate information through a centre of excellence
Training basic First Aid
Improve communications and integration of training activities across the county starting with basic first aid.
Outcome Development of walking groups around the county through the network of the GAA. A centre of excellence for walking groups to align their activities to.
LOPF with LSP
Improved channels of communication on sports supports
Strategic Action
Policy Day Actions New Activities— Explore a centralised approach to accessing leisure centre‟s, open days with pitch-n-putt courses etc
Tasks Develop a sports friendly town in Drogheda as a pilot.
Who LOPF and the Drogheda Senior Citizen‟s Group.
Garner support from identified sports and leisure centres. Explore how these centres can make their services Age Friendly
How Age Friendly County Alliance can compliment the Sports for Older People in the Action Plan 1. Support the LOPF with GAA meeting showing high level interagency support from the AFA. 2. Bridging the gap between the economic delivery of sports and leisure services and the LOPF.
Outcome A transferable model for Ardee and Dundalk to apply to the sports services in their areas.
Implementation of Plan. 1. The Action Plan will be presented to the LOPF Executive for validation and approval. 2. The Action Plan will be presented to the LAFA for approval. 3. Seek a joint meeting with the LOPF Executive and the AFA to jointly agree how the AFA can compliment and supplement the action plan. 4. The LOPF Executive will immediately set up the relevant subgroups to action the plan. 5. The LOPF will immediately activate the actions where they have responsibility for in the matrix. 6. The LOPF will present progress reports to the AFA during the year. 7. The AFA can attend any meetings of the LOPF Executive to mentor, support clarify or just engage with the members to enhance any actions requiring a level of identified support.
Areas for consideration by the AFA During the LOPF workshops held on many different topics the same underlying problem is expressed. This can sometimes be verbalised as communications, knowing what entitlements older people have, where can they get this information, who do they contact, where is the “One Stop Shop”. As a result of the small presentations given on the LOPF‟s Policy Day and from the feedback after the day once again it was very obvious that older people need information in a “One Stop Shop” format and, more than information, they need to have an independent broker on their behalf signposting them to the services that can support them in their own community. Proposal: To make Louth different in its approach in terms of service delivery for older people, that is, create a model whereby services are delivered in an efficient, effective manner with the end user (the older person) at the centre of the service. Relevant Questions: 1. What has been learned from the Service Broker experience in the Nestling Project area? 2. Can this service be replicated around the county? 3. What would make the broker service easier and more efficient to run? 4. Can the service be aligned to geographical areas the same areas as PHNs, Home Care teams, local authority areas, policing areas, transport areas, volunteering areas, etc 5. Could we have a “One Stop Shop” with the key person being the Independent Service Broker who has access to all relevant information, the capacity to empower older people to access services for themselves, advocate on the older person‟s behalf, join up services where needed in one package for the older person and generally be the service hub for that particular area. 6. Can the Third Age Foundation compliment and support this structure in terms of mentoring volunteering to support the broker? 7. Are we duplicating the structure with that of the Community Welfare Officer or the CIC? 8. How much do we need the role to be independent? 9. How can it be funded? 10. Can we learn something from the County Childcare Committee structure and its funding arrangements? 11. What can we learn from the model for advocates for People with Disabilities?