Mayo joined the Age Friendly Cities and Programme in 2013. This programme, developed by the World Health Organisation is designed to help countries across the world to respond to the challenges posed by their ageing populations. Age Friendly Mayo is delivered by Mayo County Council and works to improve the services and facilities that our older people have identified as being important to them, and the wider community, as they live healthy and active lives.
The key contributors to this programme are the Age Friendly Alliance (a high-level cross-sector group whose member agencies form an overarching strategic partnership agency groups). The Alliance is chaired by Mayo’s Chief Executive Kevin Kelly and meetings are held 4 to 5 timers per year.
Our Age Friendly Alliance brings together older people, service providers and businesses to change thinking about aging and how services to our older people are planned and delivered. Mayo’s second Age Friendly Strategy was launched in June 2022. The Age Friendly Alliance with Mayo’s Older Peoples Council work together to deliver actions within the Strategy.
Examples of Age Friendly Projects in Mayo
Age Friendly Airports
In 2022 Ireland West Airport Knock with Shannon Airport were jointly launched (with the Age Friendly Airport Guidelines) as the first airports in the world to achieve Age Friendly status. This event was launched by Minister Hildegarde Naughton in Knock Airport. Airports both won Age Friendly recognition award.
An age friendly airport is an airport, regardless of size, with an inclusive and accessible environment that optimizes opportunities for people of all ages, especially older people.
The study around both airports contributed to the development around the Age Friendly Airport Guidelines.
Make Way Day
“Make Way Day” campaign is a public awareness campaign that brings the disability and wider community together to consider the needs of people with disabilities and limited mobility in the public spaces we all share. The whole point of the day is making the public aware of an issue which in fully within their power to change. ‘Make Way Day’ is not about pointing the finger at local authorities, other agencies or random scattered activism.
Make Way Day was a collaboration of Mayo County Council, Age Friendly Mayo, Mayo’s OPC and Disability Federation Ireland.
Age Friendly Parking
Mayo County Council continue to develop Age Friendly Parking throughout the County.
Become an Age Friendly Business in Mayo
The Age Friendly Business Recognition programme is an approach to doing business that recognises and addresses the shopping requirements of their older customers. The Programme encourages retailers and service providers to think about what low, or no-cost changes they can make to help their older customers’ experience better.
Your Business should be Age Friendly because:
- It is simple to achieve
- It is low cost or cost neutral
- It opens new business for you
- It is the right thing to do!
What’s involved?
In four simple steps you can become an Age Friendly Business:
Plan: Identify a member of staff to act as a champion for age friendliness and older customers.
Act: The champion participates in our two-hour Age Friendly Business workshop and starts to develop ideas for your business.
Consult: Ask your older customers what they like, what could be improved?
Implement: Develop and implement 3 actions, received your Charter and get recognised as an Age Friendly Business.
Participating businesses are asked to nominate an ‘Age Friendly Champion’ to undergo a short online training course, consult with customers, and implement three Age Friendly actions. Training sessions available
If you have a business in Mayo and think you would like your business to become Age Friendly, or you would like further information on the programme please email to register your interest or ring 094-9064735.