Positive Ageing Month 2024

Useful Contacts 19 #positiveageingwest 1 October 2024 Join the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities in marking International Day of Older People, this October. This year’s UK theme is: “The part we play”: Celebrating the integral role of older people in our communities Background Each year on 1st October, people across the world mark United Nations International Day of Older People to raise awareness of opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations, and to mobilize the wider community to address difficulties faced by older people. Introduction to the UK theme for 2024 Older people play an integral part in strengthening our communities and neighbourhoods; as workers, carers, volunteers, activists and community connectors. But these vital contributions are often overlooked, or limited by ageism and other societal and physical barriers. As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve our social connections, enhance our sense of purpose and self- esteem. Paid work can have a positive impact on wellbeing as well as finances. Despite this, many older people find themselves encountering barriers to getting involved in all the ways they would like to. We all have a part to play in making our communities and neighbourhoods better places to age, and in celebrating and enabling the contributions of older people. On this International Day of Older People, we are celebrating older people and the vital part they play, and have the potential to play, in making our community a better place to be. ‘Older adults are an asset to communities through contributing to the local economy, taking community leadership roles, contributing skills, experience and expertise in a variety of ways, volunteering, offering care of grandchildren, taking part in democratic processes, being active community members, caring for others, making and creating, being active consumers and having full, active lives.’ Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2023. International Day of Older People Useful Contacts Age NI 028 9024 5729 advice@ageni.org Age NI Advice Service Freephone 0808 808 7575 Available Monday - Friday 9am-5pm www.ageuk.org.uk Alzheimer’s Society Fermanagh Dementia Advisor 0333 3150 3456 / 077 2547 5715 martin.bradley@alzheimers.org.uk www.alzheimers.org.uk Alzheimer’s Society Omagh Dementia Advisor 0333 3150 3456 / 078 8960 4702 Julie-anne.casson@alzheimers.org.uk www.alzheimers.org.uk Arc Healthy Living Helping others to help themselves 028 6862 8741 aidan.ormsby@archlc.com www.archlc.com The B Friend Hub Fermanagh Free telephone and home befriending service for older people living in Omagh, Strabane and Fermanagh. 028 6698 0027 / 075 9138 6189 rita@thebefriendhub.org www.omaghvolunteercentre.org Omagh 028 8224 0772 / 075 9195 2133 laurence@thebefriendhub.org British Red Cross Connecting Communities Programme in West Tyrone, Belleek, Garrison and surrounding areas - offering support tailored to your wishes and specific interests. Omagh Office: 028 8225 7290 Mobility Aids Hire Service: 028 82 257291 Communityconnector@redcross.org.uk Carers support Information and Signposting Service for unpaid Carers 028 7135 5023 geraldineann.mclaughlin@westerntrust. hscni.net www.westerntrust.hscni.net Christians Against Poverty Debt Management Advice and Support 0800 328 0006 contact@capuk.org www.capuk.org Chest Heart & Stroke Our mission is to prevent chest, heart and stroke illnesses in NI and care for those already affected by them. 028 9032 0184 / 077 9397 9870 nferguson@nichs.org.uk mvirtue@nichs.org.uk www.nichs.org.uk Community Advice Fermanagh Free, independent confidential and impartial information, advice, advocacy and representation. 028 6632 4334 / 073 9492 173 www.communityadvicefermanagh.com Connect Fermanagh Providing a friendly chat and information and help to link you to the right support and services in your area. 028 6632 0230 info@connectfermanagh.org www.connectfermanagh. org The Consumer Council Promote and safeguard the interests of consumers in Northern Ireland. 0800 121 6022 contact@consumercouncil.org.uk www.consumercouncil.org.uk