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Making Donegal a great place to
grow old in
01.02.19
THE voices of older
people were heard loud and clear at the AGM of the
Older Persons Council on Wednesday last, 23 January,
in the Mount Errigal Hotel which saw a huge turnout
with groups and individuals from all over Donegal
attending despite the inclement weather warnings.
Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Seamus
O’Domhnaill opened the AGM and encouraged agencies
across Donegal to continue to work together and with
the Older Persons Council to make Donegal a great
place to grow old in. |
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The newly elected Older Persons Council
Executive in Donegal. |
The AGM also heard from
Seamus Neely Chief Executive of Donegal County
Council and Chair of the Age Friendly Alliance. Mr
Neely said “the journey that we have all embarked
upon through the Donegal Age Friendly Programme
journey has been an enlightening one and one that
has been extremely beneficial to all involved. By
working together we have been able to implement real
meaningful change in an imaginative and cost
effective way.
“For example the Walkability Audit in Letterkenny
University Hospital has resulted in the erection of
new signage and the installation of the first Age
Friendly Car Parking space. Letterkenny being
nominated as the first age friendly town in Donegal
with the roll out of business recognition training
to all businesses and Age Friendly training
delivered to frontline staff in Donegal County
Council as well as the launch of an Older Persons
Information Guide. The delivery of the Local Link
bus service by SITT has been a lifeline for many
older people in Donegal and the Older Persons
Council has been to the fore in sharing the views
and perspectives of their members resulting in
additional bus routes and services to meet the needs
of older people especially those living in rural
areas."
Reports were also presented by joint chairs Grainne
Hines and Mary McGowan describing some of the
projects carried out by the Older Persons Council,
including intergenerational projects, engagement
with the health services for older people and
installation of gym equipment in Letterkenny Town
Park. In her address Ms Hines encouraged older
people to join the Older Persons Council and to have
their say on issues affecting their lives. |
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