Age Friendly Clinic – North Leinster Citizens Information Service -Longford

Description

North Leinster Citizens Information Service (NLCIS) is one of eight regional companies across Ireland funded by the Citizens Information Board to provide Information Advice and Advocacy to the public on their rights and entitlements. Each Citizens Information Service covers a geographical area within their region. The regional CIS companies (8 in total) cover the following areas: North Dublin, Dublin South, North Connacht & Ulster, North Leinster, North Munster, South Connacht, South Leinster and South Munster facilitating both rural and urban areas, delivering a service through a network of Citizen Information Centres (CICs).
Longford Citizens Information Centre is one of a number of centres across NLCIS region covering Longford, Meath, Louth, Kildare, and Westmeath. Similar initiatives are in development across the network.
Engage & Understand
The addition of this new offer in Longford CIC is the culmination of a journey. Citizens Information staff observed over time from their interactions with the public that access to information for an older person was an issue. The normal drop-in hours in the service presented a challenge for older people as the wait time was too long with many leaving before been seen by an Information Officer. Feedback from outreach presentations brought up issues regarding lack of knowledge about entitlements and access to face-to-face information and support. Social Policy work within the network highlighted the challenge further. The move to digital by government departments presented significant challenges for some older people accessing entitlements. This was addressed as part of our new national strategy (Connecting Citizens 2025 – 2027) that was launched last year.
Plan Strategically
As a response to this, we contacted Age Friendly Longford, led by Longford County Council and supported by Longford Age Friendly Programme Manager: Martina Needham
Martina put us in contact with Age Friendly Ireland and our first task was to appoint a staff member to act as a champion for age friendliness and older customers. We appointed Mary Gray who participates in the Age Friendly Business workshop, and we commenced the journey to achieve recognition as an Age Friendly service.
We undertook to ask older people in the community and in their homes for their opinion. Caroline Doyle, Administrative Officer/Local Coordinator County Longford – Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme/Age Friendly Ireland was extremely helpful in getting this feedback from people in their homes.
Act and Implement
Based on this feedback, we developed a plan for the clinic and successfully achieved age-friendly status.
Longford Citizens Information Centre’s Age Friendly Charter is a statement of our commitment and lists the first three actions that we are taking from feedback received:
1. Dedicated Age Friendly Clinic every Tuesday 1.30pm – 3.30pm.
2. Clear signage to the Age Friendly Clinic.
3. Suitable chairs in the waiting room and a water dispenser available at reception.

We advertised on local radio, online, and in local newspapers. Longford Age Friendly Alliance and Longford Age Friendly Council members were updated regularly and provided great support to the initiative. Longford Age Friendly clinic commenced in May 2025

Aim of Initiative

The Age Friendly clinic is designed to provide an opportunity where older people can drop into our service without an appointment on Tuesday afternoons between 1:30pm and 3:30pm. The dedicated clinic is accessible, inclusive and impartial where older people can meet one of our Information Officers in confidence to discuss their queries and seek guidance on a range of public and social services. Our friendly and knowledgeable Information Officers will offer those attending the clinic a “Benefit Check” and assist them with online support to ensure that they are getting all their entitlements.

Who is it aimed at

Older people

3 Steps critical to success

1. Willingness to address the challenges as outlined by staff from their interactions with older people and respond to issues raised under Social Policy.
2. Support of North Leinster CIS Regional Manager and Board of Directors
3. Support of local County Council, Age friendly Ireland, Shopping Centre Management

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Building awareness of the service and offer. Having the premises ready for launch.
2. Staff to cover the clinic
3. Online access- New digital pilot scheme in progress

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Age Friendly clinic in place and operational
2. Extending our service offer and increasing collaboration and engagement with other groups in County Longford.
3. Meeting the needs of older people. Learning the challenges they face and feeding these challenges back through social policy work