Series of events to help support and empower older people in the community organised in Kilkenny

A programme of events designed to help support elderly people in Kilkenny will kick-off this week on Friday 4 October.

The programme of events and activities have been jointly developed by Kilkenny County Council Age Friendly Programme, the Older People’s Council, Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership, the HSE, An Garda Síochána and Kilkenny Library Service. 

Four events have been organised which will tackle key issues for older people such as safety and security, as well as offering support for elderly people who wish to live at home independently.

All of the events organised are free of charge and will be held at Mayfair Library on Parliament Street.

This week on Friday 4 October from 11am to 1pm, the 'Age Friendly Healthy Homes' event will take place. The discussion aimed at supporting older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence for as long as possible will be led by Kilkenny Age Friendly Homes Coordinator Linda Kirwan. The objective of this programme is to enable and empower people to live longer healthier lives by keeping care close to home and expanding the range of local health and social services.

READ NEXT: JOB ALERT: Kilkenny County Council seeking firefighters across five fire stations

The talk entitled 'Assisted Decision Making & Safeguarding' will be held on Friday 18 October from 11am to 1pm. Rob O'Connor and Gemma Flood from the HSE will be providing this discussion about the available HSE service Assisted Decision Making & Safeguarding. The purpose of this event is to highlight the different preventative supports available that older people can put into place to stop abuse happening in the future. 

A workshop on 'Minding your Wellbeing Self Care' will take place on Friday 25 October, also from 11am to 1pm. Health Promotion and Improvement Officer Ann Bray will lead this workshop which gives people the time and space to consider their wellbeing as well as offering support for people to build and practise self-care skills. Unlike the other events, this workshop requires people to book ahead to take part. 

Inspector Alma Molloy of Kilkenny Garda Station will guide the 'Community Safety Talk' on Friday November 1 from 11am to 1pm. In this talk, Inspector Molloy will discuss personal safety and security for older people both in the home and in the community.

Older people in the community are encouraged to drop by any of these events to learn more about the local resources available to support them.