Health & Wellbeing Age Expo 2023

Description

The Clare Older People’s Council hosted a ‘Health and Wellbeing, Age Expo’ on Friday, 30th June 2023, at Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Over 500 people turned up to the Age Expo which showcased the supports and services available in County Clare that are of interest and use to older people.

The Expo was a platform for Clare’s older people to engage with organisations delivering health and wellbeing supports and services across the County. Attendees were eager to learn more about what’s available in the county and to try out taster sessions too throughout the day.

Approximately 40 groups displayed their services at the event including:

• The Mid-West Community Healthcare – Integrated Care Programme Older Persons
• Active Ennis Leisure Centre
• Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland
• Family Resource Centres
• Alone
• Clare Libraries
• TFI Local Link
• Limerick/Clare Education & Training Board
• Samaritans
• Task Community Care
• Obair – Meals on Wheels Service
• Slainte an Chlair
• An Garda Síochána
• Clare County Fire & Rescue Service
• Active Retirement Ireland and many more

Guest speakers discussed the new ‘Healthy Age Friendly Homes’ initiative, ‘Mental Health and Retirement”, “Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons” (ICPOP) and Fire Safety. Talks/activities took place in break out rooms on Active Ageing and Mindfulness and talks were organised by the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, West Clare Mental Health Association and Sláinte an Chláir. Attendees also had an opportunity to participate in a singing taster session, Active Ageing classes and attend a cookery demonstration.
The Irish Heart Foundation carried out FREE health checks during the event and CHIME provided free hearing tests.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the initiative was to provide greater awareness of all the various services that are available to older people in Clare and by providing this on the one day it gave attendees the opportunity to meet service providers face to face and sample some of the services.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative was aimed at older people in Clare.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Funding was applied for through the Healthy Ireland Funding and was successful.
2. Continuous correspondence and meetings held with Clare Older People’s Council and the Clare Age Friendly Programme staff ensured that a broad range of topics were covered including ideas for stands, speakers, venue, advertising.
3. Advertising:The Expo was extensively advertised through local newspapers, interviews on the local radio, press releases issued through social media. Notices were sent to parish offices for their newsletters and posters were distributed to GP surgeries, public offices, libraries, family resource centres, HSE Primary Care buildings, Limerick/Clare Education Training Board, Municipal District Offices, TD and Senator Constituency Offices, Day Care Centres, Active Retirement Groups. Posters were also distributed to Meals on Wheels clients, Community Groups and Clare PPN.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. As time went on more and more stands were interested in participating in the event. We were unable to facilitate all requests due to the capacity restrictions of the host venue. However, those who could not attend the event in-person provided leaflets/information that was included in the event tote bags, ensuring their message could still reach the attendees. The OPC and the Clare Age Friendly Programme were taken aback by the response to the event and will seek a bigger venue in future, now that we have established the interest/need for such engagement in the county.
2. Some stallholders were unable to attend at the last minute. The ‘waiting list’ that was put in place was utilised in this instance.
3. Selecting a suitable date for the event was a challenge at the beginning. The OPC selected the last Friday in June as Friday was Pension Day and a lot of older people would already be out and about. This was indeed correct and was reflected with the huge turn out on the day. It took some time to decide on a suitable venue. After visiting 3 potential locations the OPC selected Treacy’s West County because of its accessibility, connection with public transport and their offering of an Age Friendly rate for every attendee in their restaurant on the day.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. One of the key goals of the Healthy Ireland Framework for improving Health and Wellbeing is ‘increasing the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life’. The Clare Age Expo supported this goal, raising awareness of the health enhancing opportunities available for older people living in County Clare.
2. Ireland has an ageing population and we all need to be taking care of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally. The Expo showcased a range of goods and services both medical and non-medical to support older people to do this.
3. Events like the Expo provides an important platform for service providers to meet with and talk to the service users directly and vice versa.