Live Longer and Prosper

Description

WCD has provided training for more than 300 participants in 2024 during the Live Longer and Prosper course, in 9 venues.
Activities included informational speakers from MABS, Citizens Information, CHIME, Age Friendly Healthy Homes, music, refreshments and exercise. Feedback from participants is excellent, and demand to attend again from all attendees. This project is part funded by the Healthy Ireland Fund, and a report on the program has been submitted to the Healthy Westmeath Coordinator in Westmeath County Council, with a report documenting mental and physical health benefits, reported in 2025 from Dr. Diane Cooper who measured and noted the excellent mental health and physical health benefits.
in 2025 the program will be delivered differently, in 5 venues across Westmeath for a 5 day duration (1 full days course per week, per venue). Up to 40 participants expected to attend each session. The line up of speakers for participants changes year to year to keep up with the interests and needs of attendees, as it is important that the course delivered to them is as enjoyable and as useful as it can be. Updates during the course are reported back to Healthy Westmeath, to monitor the pros and cons of what works or indeed no longer works on the program, to ensure enjoyment as well as continued participation is ongoing.
It will include the three components during every session of a physical activity, an educational element and a social element.
Lunch and Transport are provided, so that there is no cost at all on the attendees.
The day begins at 10am and concludes at 2pm.

Aim of Initiative

We aim to target the most isolated and vulnerable people in society, and help to empower them in every way possible, and give them access to tools and information in order to live as healthy and as long a life as possible.
We target speakers specifically that are older person focused, and have information regarding their entitlements and most importantly, their own specific needs.
By delivering in rural areas we can bring in people that may not have access to ask the questions they really need to empower themselves, and improve their lives as much as possible.
Overall the main aim is in the title! We aim to assist older people to Live Longer, and Prosper!

Who is it aimed at

The program design is targeted at older persons in rural Ireland. The participants include people attending Active Retirement groups, but also older individuals who are currently living alone and have been identified as feeling isolated and are looking to widen their social circle, and wish to take part and gain knowledge within their own area.
benefits include participants going on to join their local groups, rekindling old friendships, as well being able to gain access to people and organizations that perhaps they are unable to because of their own personal circumstances. Anybody over the age of 60 is welcome to attend.

3 Steps critical to success

1. The most important thing I have found throughout is the cooperation and engagement of the community and local groups. They are the heart of where your course is taking place, and in return, we try to listen to their needs and tailor the courses in the best way we possibly can. Having a strong relationship and earning the trust of people in these rural areas makes engagement higher, and strengthens the course delivery and attendance. This is reflected in the higher numbers of participants every year.
2. Ensuring that the course material and delivery is relevant and socially engaging is so important. People need to enjoy their day and not feel like they are simply being talked at, because no matter how informative the content, nobody can take that in when they are not engaged and enjoying the day.
3. Adequate funding to deliver an interesting course that keeps people engaged, and allows for catering and transport, keeping it at no cost to the attendees.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Sometimes people become ill, have appointments and miss sessions. We have tried to counteract this by letting people know well in advance of the dates. I try to make sure if someone misses a speaker that a friend in the group will take handouts and information for them.
2. Measurement tools were introduced last year for every participant, with very large number of participants this can be challenging, however we have streamlined the process for this to run more smoothly, without becoming a chore for attendees.
3. Peoples differing abilities need to be taken into account and this can be challenging, so knowing who is in your group is very important. Some groups have a younger median age range, and some are much older median range. I try to make sure speakers in large halls have a microphone where needed, and i ask that anyone who needs to sits nearer to the front. We also cater to this by modifying exercise where needed and trying as much as possible to cater to the attendees needs. This applies also to transport needs, and this is where its important to have a good relationship with the group, and be aware of these requirements.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Increased health outcomes for attendees, both mental health and physical health, through exercise and social benefits. We have a report from Dr. Diane Cooper who compiled a date report on this, which is available specifically relating to the Live Longer and Prosper program on their website.
2. Increased autonomy for individuals in attendance, who can avail of services provided to them, be it financially, for their home, grant assistance, etc. A good example of this is talks with the HAFH(Healthy Age Friendly Homes) coordinator, or MABS being speakers in attendance.
3. Positive outcomes for the local areas who take part, i.e, hall hire to a local club, which brings new funds to them, new members sometimes join Active Retirement groups, when we use mixed groups new friendships are formed, which encourages more participation in other activities, events and groups, which in turn enriches the local community.