|
Third Age Foundation runs a number of services on an ongoing basis, including:
Read more about these services on this page.
Chiropody
Chiropody is an extremely important service for older people. Trying to get an appointment for a chiropodist can be extremely frustrating and can involve a lengthy wait. The TAF chiropody service runs one morning per month in the Third Age Centre. At present, the chiropodist can see a maximum of 15 clients in a morning, although she sometimes extends her time with us to accommodate additional clients.
In 2007, we had 134 clients and as an indication of the importance of this service the number of clients availing of this have increased each year since then. The service is provided at a reduced cost to clients.
Laundry Service
The laundry service operates five mornings a week in the Third Age Centre and is available to local older people, who can drop in and return later to collect their clothes, washed, dried and ironed. This service is particularly popular with older men and with people who, while they may have washing machines, do not have clothes driers. Each year, we notice an increase in the number of clients who use this service during the winter months.
Library (video and book)
The Third Age Foundation also has a video and book library, members can watch movies, listen to music CD’s, sing-along with the karoke machine, read a book or two from our library while in the Third Age Centre or borrow them for later. Many of our books have been donated by the County Library in Trim.
Drop-In Centre
The Third Age Centre acts as into a drop in centre, where members can call in at any time for a cup of tea and a chat. The premises is also used as an alternative to waiting in the doctor’s surgery next door, this helps to ease congestion problems in the surgery waiting room, as well as providing a friendly and relaxed environment for our members while they wait for their appointments.
Third Age Centre Bus
The Third Age Centre has a bus, a vital service without which many of our participants would not be able to participate in activities and events coordinated and run by the Third Age Foundation. In 2007, in excess of 1000 clients utilised this service. Several of our projects rely on the Third Age Centre bus, including the St. Joseph’s Hospital project, the Combined Choral Group, drama workshop, knitting project, socials and outings.
In recent times, the Third Age bus has been used by the Summerhill Meals-on-Wheels group, allowing them to bring clients to the Community Centre to eat their dinner with other members of the community.
The rural nature of our community and lack of local transport can cause difficulties with accessing services, facilities and opportunities and has resulted in social isolation and exclusion. Our bus ensured that older people who are frail, isolated and disabled are provided with the opportunity to participate in community life, through participation in our various activities, projects and programmes.
Projects that depend on the Third Age Bus:
|
Services 