The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme aims to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence, for as long as possible. The programme’s ambition is to enable everyone to live longer healthier lives by keeping care close to home and expanding the range of health and social care services in the community. It is about providing a range of alternatives for older people who may otherwise transition into long term residential care prematurely.
To do this, we have appointed a Local Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator in all local authorities. Each Local Coordinator will case manage a support package for each person referred, linking the supports from the variety of public, voluntary, private and community agencies in the area.
The purpose of this referral is to identify an older person who could benefit from some extra help and support in order to continue living in their own home. The Local Coordinator will carry out a home-based assessment and, in partnership with the older person, will identify and design a range of supports to enable the older person to continue living independently. This will not affect any current home help, medical card, pension, or other services being received.
These supports include but are not limited to:
Housing – adaptations, rightsizing, minor modifications, home sharing, decluttering, etc.
Medical/Health – GP Visits, illness specific supports, transport to hospital appointments, home help, etc.
Technology – Digital training, connectivity supports, personal alarms, panic buttons, assistive technology etc.
Community – Meals on Wheels, social activities, befriending, community groups, libraries, physical activity, etc.
Climate/Energy – Energy retrofits, grant information, BER Assessments, home heating advice, etc.
Financial – Bills advice, carers supports, pensions, LPT, etc.
