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Chief Executive of HSE sees first hand how Third Age Foundation benefits older people |
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Professor Brendan Drumm, chief executive of the HSE visited the Third Age Foundation, Summerhill, Co Meath tomorrow (August 26th) at 11am, to see first hand the many projects taking place under its roof which work together to improve the health and well-being of local older people. The Third Age Foundation is the hub for a broad range of ideas and activities with members including local older people, the Travelling Community and residents of a local long stay hospital. Activities include an Internet cafe, intergenerational projects with local children, free English language classes for new migrants offered by older volunteer tutors, as well as an advocacy and outreach service. The national office of Senior Help Line is located in the Third Age Centre. Senior Help Line is a confidential listening service for older people by older people for the price of a local call anywhere in the country. The lines are open each day from 10am-4pm and 7-10pm, a total of 63 listening hours per week (1850 440 444)."The Third Age centre is 20 years old this year, and Senior Help Line is 10 years old this year, so it is fitting that Professor Drumm has the opportunity to see and evaluated our work in this auspicious year," says chief executive officer, Mary Nally."Numerous surveys indicate that it is the wish of most older people to live at home in their own communities. We are a core service provider in terms of preventive health, risk reduction and health promotion. Our many Third Age activities make a valid and valuable contribution towards helping to keep older people at home as is their wish, either living fully independent lives or with some assistance from statutory and voluntary community services," she says. "Our Senior Help Line service helps thousands of older people nationally each year. Many callers feel lonely or isolated, they phone with a specific problem, a health or safety worry. Our volunteers help them explore their options and many tell us they feel much better and clearer having had a chance to discuss the problem," she says. The ethos of both organisations is self-empowerment, encouraging older people to participate in a way that improves their own lives and makes a positive difference to their communities. "We feel the Third Age Foundation offers a unique model for older people, a viable template upon which to deliver local services to our growing numbers of older people. In this context, we look forward to welcoming Professor Drumm and showing him all we do," said Mary Nally.
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