From time to time, we have been involved in many different activities, some of which have been pilot studies which have lead to the development of new inititaives, others have been once off activities. Read here about some of these initiatives.

Conferences, Seminars and Information Sessions

At TAF, there is considerable focus on raising issues of concern to the older person and on lobbying for rights and entitlements for older people (read more in the Championing Older People section of the web site). TAF members regularly participate in conferences, seminars and information sessions, some of which are organised by TAF itself. TAF members often give presentations highlighting issues or recounting their experiences as older people in Irish society. Participation in such events is considered a very important activity for TAF, both in raising the profile of older people and the organisation and also as an opportunity for TAF members to be active participants.

At TAF, we also organise information days. Sometimes, in response to requests by TAF members, guest speakers provide information on a specific topic for TAF members and participants, Other information days are organised for groups outside TAF who want to learn from our experience, especially in relation to setting up an active retirement group or pertaining to replicating activities and services that TAF provides.

Building links: locally, nationally and internationally

TAF has developed links and contacts with many older people’s groups and organisations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. These links include membership of the following organisations:

• OWN - the Older Woman’s Network
• NWCI  - the National Women’s Council of Ireland
• ISCP - the Irish Senior Citizen’s Parliament

We have developed linkages with Age & Opportunity, the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN), European Network of Older Volunteers (ENOV), Retired Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) and the Wheel.

We have had representatives on a number of different bodies, including:

• National Council on Ageing and Older People
• The Local Sports Partnership
• AGE – the anti-discrimination platform in Brussels
• The Wheel (education and learning, and health groups)
• Meath County Development Board, Meath Leader II
• TIDE (Trim Initiative for Development and Enterprise Limited)

We have also worked on projects with the Meath County Council, North Eastern Health Board, Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform, Equality Authority, National Disability Authority, Droichead Arts Centre, Comhairle, Citizen’s Information Centre, Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, Comhairle, Maynooth University College, Navan Traveler’s Training Centre, Mosney Refugee and asylum seekers centre, local educational institutes such as primary and secondary level schools and VEC.

Other projects: Digi-health

Working on with Intel, the Digi-health project involved looking at a holistic approach to health and wellbeing of an older person and exploring how, by studying the needs and life styles of an older person, we can use technology to enhance their health, wellbeing and safety.

Other projects: Assistive Living Technologies

Again working with Intel, this one-year pilot project involved introducing assistive living technologies into the homes of older people. The aim of this project is to develop better models for assisting the lives of older people based on the results and findings of this pilot project.