Towards Age Friendly Healthcare – Walkability Study of Clondalkin Primary Care Centre

Description

Background/Context:

The Health Service Executive (HSE), aligned with the national SláinteCare strategy, is committed to transforming healthcare by shifting services closer to the community and supporting people to live well as they age. With Ireland’s population steadily ageing (CSO, 2022; HANA, 2024), it is essential that healthcare environments utilise Age Friendly principles ensure health centres are accessible, welcoming, and supportive for older patients fulfilling SláinteCare’s vision of integrated, person-centred care.
Methods or Approach:

We engaged members of the South Dublin Older Persons’ Council to ensure meaningful involvement of those with lived experience. This collaboration was central to our approach, reflecting a true partnership between healthcare providers and the community. Using the Age Friendly Ireland guide, “Towards Age Friendly Primary Care Centres,” we conducted a detailed walkability study of the Clondalkin Primary Care Centre. The guide provided a framework focusing on accessibility, signage, seating, and wayfinding.
The walkability study was carried out jointly by service users, clinical and non-clinical staff, and representatives from HSE Estates and Age Friendly Ireland, allowing a diversity of perspectives to shape the assessment. Together, we identified practical improvements to enhance the centre’s usability for older adults. This co-produced process informed targeted improvements and strengthened ongoing collaboration and commitment to Age Friendly principles.
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Results or Learning:
Significant Age Friendly improvements were implemented throughout the Primary Care Centre and Integrated Care Hub, particularly in signage and accessibility. Each floor was assigned a distinct contrasting colour reflected consistently in signage and complemented by a colour stripe along the base of walls to aid wayfinding. Larger font sizes on signage improved readability, and pictures of local landmarks created a familiar, welcoming environment. Age Friendly seating with armrests was installed in waiting areas, enhancing comfort and support for those with mobility needs. Additionally, a new compilation of health promotion videos was introduced in waiting areas, offering valuable accessible information.
A key learning is the importance of integrating the “Towards Age Friendly Primary Care Centres” guidelines early in the design process to embed Age Friendly principles from the outset.
A challenge identified was Age Friendly parking. Though signage improvements are planned, the parking bays were originally built too narrow to fully meet Age Friendly standards (National Age Friendly Parking Space Guide). This highlights the need to apply these guidelines during initial planning to avoid costly retrofitting.
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Implications for Future Practice:
Our experience shows Age Friendly principles must be systematically incorporated into all new Primary Care Centres and retrofitting of existing facilities. Early and meaningful engagement with service users and stakeholders ensures healthcare environments truly meet older people’s needs.
The walkability study proved an effective tool for involving service users in assessing and improving healthcare settings. This supports the HSE’s Better Together Roadmap (2020) by fostering partnership and co-production in healthcare design and evaluation.
We recommend sharing this approach across HSE regions to promote wider adoption of Age Friendly design, improving patient experience, accessibility, and inclusivity in primary care.

Aim of Initiative

The aim of the initiative is to ensure that healthcare environments are designed to meet the specific needs of older adults. Age Friendly principles provide a vital framework to ensure Primary Care Centres and Integrated Care Hubs are accessible, welcoming, and supportive for older patients. By embedding these principles into the design and operation of healthcare facilities, the HSE can improve patient experience, promote independence, and reduce hospital admissions, fulfilling SláinteCare’s vision of integrated, person-centred care.
Early and meaningful engagement with service users and stakeholders ensures healthcare environments truly meet older people’s needs.
The walkability study proves to be an effective tool for directly involving service users in assessing and improving healthcare settings. This supports the HSE’s Better Together Roadmap (2020) by fostering partnership and co-production in healthcare design and evaluation.

Who is it aimed at

This initiative is aimed at older persons and all service users of HSE Primary Care Centres and Integrated Care Hubs as collaboration with those with lived experience and universal design benefit all patients and service users.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Collaboration with service users and valuing their opinion and lived experience
2. Integrating the “Towards Age Friendly Primary Care Centres” guidelines into design of healthcare facilities
3. Sharing this approach across HSE regions to promote wider adoption of Age Friendly design, improving patient experience, accessibility, and inclusivity in primary care.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. A challenge identified was Age Friendly parking. Though signage improvements are planned, the parking bays were originally built too narrow to fully meet Age Friendly standards (National Age Friendly Parking Space Guide).
2. This standards were not utilised during the initial planning which would have avoided costly retrofitting.
3. Changing process so that co-design of healthcare facilities with service users (co-design) becomes the established practice.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Significant Age Friendly improvements were implemented throughout the Primary Care Centre and Integrated Care Hub, particularly in signage and accessibility
2. Communication: a new compilation of health promotion videos was introduced in waiting areas, offering valuable accessible information
3. Design of healthcare facilities based on input from the people who use these services