Access Cavan

The Cavan Age-friendly Alliance

The Cavan Age-friendly Alliance was officially launched on 20 April 2012. It is a partnership between older people, public sector organisations and other groups that are working together to develop Cavan as an age-friendly county. Being age-friendly will mean that older people can easily access services and information, and that their views are taken into account when decisions are being made about services and policies that affect them. Age-friendly communities are communities that work well for people from every age group, not just older age groups.

In Cavan, the Age-friendly Alliance is made up of the Cavan 050 Network, Cavan County Council, HSE, VEC, the GAA and the Gardai as well as the Netwell Centre, the Department of Health and the Ageing Well Network.

In terms of progress so far, the Cavan 050 Network has been engaged in research over the past number of years on older people’s issues, and have conducted three ‘age-friendly’ audits of towns (Killeshandra, Kilnaleck and Cavan).

The impetus for age-friendly work comes from the World Health Organization’s work on age-friendly communities. Both at global and national level much work is currently taking place in this area. In the North East Region, Cavan is working alongside Monaghan, Meath, Louth and Fingal to develop age-friendly strategies and implement actions.

The Age Friendly Strategy for county Cavan is due to be launched in early 2013.

Bealtaine Festival

During the Bealtaine Festival the SIU together with the Arts Office, Museum and Library focused on bringing events out to older people with mobility issues by putting on music and drama performances in nursing homes and day care centres

Social Inclusion Week 2012

We worked with a number of disability organisations during Social Inclusion week such as Rehabcare and the Cavan Autism Support Group.

Digital Switchover Champion

SIU worked with the Digital Switchover Champion to ensure that everyone was aware of the television switchover especially key target groups such as older people and people with disabilities.