The National Age Friendly Programme in Ireland has led to the development of 31 Age Friendly City and County Programmes and strategies across Ireland. Over 500 local initiatives have been implemented, including alternative housing, community transport, physical activity programs, and age friendly business recognition. National indicators are being used to measure progress and share best practices. Looking ahead, the programme aims to further embed age friendly actions into local plans and policies, expand successful initiatives, and inform national policies to improve the lives of older adults across Ireland.

1. National Age Friendly Programme
Catherine McGuigan

2.  31 AFC&C Programmes
 27 AFC&C Strategies developed
 Programme momentum increasing
 Test sites for innovations/pilots
 Age Friendly actions and commitments being
sustained in key local plans and frameworks
 Older Peoples Councils recognised as the voice
of Older People
 Older people better connected to supports and
services
 25+ Age Friendly Towns
 500+ businesses participating in the Age Friendly
Business Recognition Programme
 Counties/Cities are key reference points for data on
older people’s health and wellbeing
 21 City/County baseline-profile positive ageing reports
(HaPAI)
• Alternative Housing Models
• Community Transport services
• OPRAH, Cultaca
• District Registers of Older People
• Age Friendly Hospital Programmes
• Hospital discharge protocols
• Physical activity programmes
• Walkability programmes
• Outreach, befriending progs
• Accessible information
• Annual Age Friendly Awards
• Peer to peer home safety progs
• Delivery of Age Friendly training for
architects, planners and engineers
• Coordination of Research
Programme (HaPAI)
A Snapshot of Age Friendly Initiatives
From 2009 to 2016......
For a more comprehensive listing please see AFI’s on-line directory of c. 500Age Friendly Initiatives

3. December 2016
Resources
Example of positive practice and innovation
 Supports - WHO Global Network of Age-friendly
Cities and Communities and AFEE

 D

International positioning

4. 2017....
Strategic Priorities
Strengthening &
Embedding Local
Programmes
Scaling up / Replicating
best practice
Communications &
Sharing Learning
National Policy

5. Looking Forward – 2017 and beyond
2017: Programme Support Unit responsible for providing national
support and coordination for the Age Friendly Programme
High Level Goals
 Supporting each Age Friendly City and County Programmes in moving through strategy
development to advanced implementation
 Optimising programme quality and impact by supporting wide-scale application of innovative,
effective and sustainable age-friendly practices.
 Informing and influencing policy and service development at both national and local level

6. Structures
Current Structure & Positioning
AGE FRIENDLY CITY & COUNTY
ALLIANCES
Senior level Multiagency Alliances
chaired by County/City Manager/
Independent Chair
INTERDEPARTMENTAL
TEAMS/ TASK
MANAGERS
NATIONAL
ADVISORY GROUP
(CE’s, Ass. Sec’s,
HSE Nat. Director,
Ass.
Commissioner,
Business)
CITY AND COUNTY
PROGRAMME
MANAGERS
OLDER PEOPLES
COUNCILS CO-
ORDINATORS
OLDER PEOPLES
COUNCILS
THEMATICK
WORKING
GROUPS
National Chairs of
Alliances, Network of
OPC’s, National
Programme Managers,
NGO Forum
MEATH COUNTY
COUNCIL
Lead Local Authority
Programme Host
LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION AGE FRIENDLY CITIES & COUNTIES GOVERNANCE / HOSTING

7. Older Peoples Council
Older Peoples Council
Elected Executive
A Voice for all:
• Older People’s Groups
• Community & Voluntary
Organisations
• Advocacy Groups
• Residential Homes
• Younger Older People
• Frail Older People
• Individuals
• Specific Voices
Nominees on alliance
and working/sub groups

8. National Policy Context Ireland
• Programme for Government
• National Planning Framework
• Healthy Ireland
• National Positive Ageing Strategy
• Action Plan for Housing
• Rural Development Plan
• Connecting 4 Life
• Action Plan for Jobs
• HSE Service Plan / Integrated Care Programme for Older People
• Garda National Strategy
• Citizens Assembly

9. National Positive Ageing Indicators
& HaPAI Baseline
National Baseline – 21 Age Friendly programme areas
Composite Data Now Available
Dissemination Plan – Sub committee established (Dublin City,
Offaly; Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Fingal, Cavan)
Local & National Uses – LECP, County Development Plans, JPC
Plans, Physical Activity Plans, Programmes of Work, Specific
Projects, Thematic Data, Cross Departmental National Plans
HSE Research Grants – National University Maynooth; National Falls
Prevention Programme; South Dublin County Council

10. Integrated Care Programme for Older
People
Person Centric
Clinical
Social
Technological
Physical
All stakeholders collaborating to
integrate health and social care
services as part of a long-term
programme to improve and
streamline care for Irish citizens
Appropriate Housing
Adaptations
Location
Public Realm
Transport
Access to services
Information &
Communication,
community services,
physical activity, social
supports & outlets
(libraries, post office,
shops, banks, recreation
areas)
Acute Care, Community/Primary based services -
GP access, Public Health, Occupational Therapy,
Physiotherapy, Chronic Disease management ,
Signposting, Case management, early
interventions
Telehealth, Telecare, Smart Technologies,
Broadband, Digital capacity, remote
interaction

11. Communications
• National Publications – Statement of Strategy; Aims & Ambitions; The Story so Far (This particular publication
captures the priority issues and outlines examples of local implementation)
•Local (County/City) Publications – Age Friendly Strategies; Annual Reports
•Research - Only the Lonely (with Trinity College examining the impact of isolation & loneliness), HaPAI (Health &
Positive Ageing National Baseline with Department of Health), Housing Research “SLIOTAR” (with the Dept of Housing,
Planning & Local Government capturing recommendations on age friendly housing to support people across the life
course)
•Toolkits/Guidebooks - Business Recognition Scheme; Age Friendly Walkability; Age Friendly Programme Toolkit, Age
Friendly Town Toolkit, Public Realm Guide, Older Persons Council Guidebook, Age Friendly Town Plans
•National Portal - www.agefriendlyireland/agefriendly
•Compendium of local initiatives / WHO compendium of global initiatives
•Age Friendly Businesses Register
• Information Videos – Skerries, Ardee, Louth, National
• Social Media – Twitter, Facebook, Website
• PR – Local Government Information Unit/Local Media/Publications/Newsletter

12. Technical Guidance - Training
Modules
Age Friendly Business
Information & Communication
Age Friendly Libraries Recognition
Housing & Public Realm

13. Catherine McGuigan
National Age Friendly Programme Lead
catherine.mcguigan@meathcoco.ie
www.agefriendlyireland.ie