These projects have grown from the awareness among Third Age Foundation members of the need to enable older people to maintain their health and well-being, as well as to live active and full lives, in an independent way in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Activities initiated by Third Age Foundation and services such as the Third Age Bus were first and foremost aimed at providing older adults living in the community the opportunity to remain, or to become again, active members of the local community and that every older person would be encouraged and supported to participate to the greatest extent possible in social and civic life.  

 These activities soon broadened to include older adults living in long-stay residential care and members of the local traveller community and more recently have extended to include non-Irish nationals living in the Summerhill area.

Social inclusion transcends almost all of the activities of the Third Age Foundation, but the flagship projects in this regard include the Choral Group, Fáilte Isteach, and St. Joseph’s Project. Other projects that support social inclusion include the Third Age Bus, lifelong learning programmes and trips and socials – evidence that social inclusion is the number one priority for the Third Age Foundation.