Older Adult Health and Wellbeing Project

Description

The Older Adult Health and Wellbeing Project was granted funding through Healthy Tipperary for 3 years. The aim of the project is to empower older people to take a holistic approach to improving their health and wellbeing and to provide accessible opportunity to engage in social interaction with a health and wellbeing focus. The project uses a variety of activities to promote healthy aging and aims to decrease impacts of social isolation for the older person. Activities that have been rolled out under this programme include:

-The Community Choir
-Positive Psychology- Reducing Self Doubt and Tackling the Inner Critic
-Digital Literacy
-Easy Exercise Programme
-Healthy Christmas Cookery
-Information Coffee Mornings
-Fit for Life
-Men’s Health Week- health screening and information sessions
-Christmas crafts
-International Women’s day wellbeing morning
-A moment to yourself-12 week self care programme
-Soundbaths
-Creativity for Wellbeing

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the project is to improve health and wellbeing of people aged 50+ in North Tipperary

Who is it aimed at

The project is aimed at people aged 50+ in North Tipperary, the travelling community and people with disabilities.

3 Steps critical to success

1. The application for funding to Healthy Tipperary. Without this funding opportunity the project wouldn’t have had the scope to progress and be as holisitc as it is.
2. Promotion of our events and activities via social media, local newspapers and local newsletters. Having the opportunity to inform our community of upcoming events and how to register for programmes under this project was crucial to the success of every initiative within the project
3. Having a funded staff member through our Tusla FRC community Development project who looks after to organisation of all initiatives under the programme and her team lead to support in applications and reporting on the service was cruicial to its continued success over the three years.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Transport for the older adult to engage from rural areas was a challenge. To overcome this barrier, Silver Arch FRC recruited a volunteer driver to drive our service vehicle to support engagement in programmes.
2. Space-community space in Nenagh is an issue. Silver Arch have two spaces in Nenagh and a space in Borrisokane which we were able to use for the roll out of this programme but only for planning a year in advance and booking the space at the start of the year for each programme under this project, the space wouldn’t have been available to roll out the programmes. It is always a stress when planning groups.
3. N/A

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Improved social connectedness among the aging population
2. Increased knowledge of ways to improve wellbeing among the aging population
3. Increased confidence to participate in social opportunities and wellbeing initiatives within the community.