Phone: 01 6183057 or 045 880980 | Email: aine.brady@oireachtas.ie
December 2009 – Minister Áine Brady launches the Older Voices Kildare Project
Áine Brady, T.D., Minister for Older People and Health Promotion, today (15th
December 2009) officially launched the Older Voices Kildare Project in the
Community Hall in Naas.
The Older Voices Kildare Project aims to empower older people to become
actively involved in their communities and challenge the myths and stereotyping
surrounding older age. It will, for example, provide information for older
citizens, identify barriers that some older men can experience to participation
in their communities and explore a new initiative - "Countywide Space for
Older People" which will strengthen the voice of older people in Co.
Kildare.
At the launch today, Minister Brady acknowledged the dedication of the Steering
Group, the Kildare VEC, the HSE and the Kildare Leader Partnership for their
on-going support and funding of the project.
Speaking in support of the aims of the Older Voices Kildare Project the
Minister said "A sense of isolation, at any age can be a difficult reality to
cope with. It is therefore very important that older people are supported to
reduce the risk of rural isolation. Being actively involved in our communities
can address the problem of isolation and nurture new interests and broaden our
horizons".
The Minister reiterated that the care and well being of older people was a
priority for this Government. "I am happy to be able to say that,
notwithstanding the severe overall economic difficulties facing the country at
the moment, we provided an additional €10 million in the recent Budget to
expand the Home Care Package Initiative. In addition to other community
measures such as Home-Help, Meals-on-Wheels, and Day Care, these packages are
helping one of the most vulnerable sections of our society, particularly in the
context of addressing inappropriate admissions to acute hospitals or long-term
residential care. All of these services are intended to support older people to
remain living at home for as long as possible".