Positive Ageing Month 2024

2 Foreword As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I am delighted to welcome you all to the 2024 Positive Ageing Month publication. Positive Ageing Month, which takes place annually in October, is a month-long programme of events and activities for older people to recognise and celebrate the contribution our older residents make in our communities and to encourage them to be active and social. Our older residents play a key part in our society through their experience, skills, being active community members, providing a caring role for grandchildren and being active consumers. The Council is pleased to once again be working with South West Age Partnership, the Western Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency to put together a varied programme of events and activities, both in-person and online. With cluster meetings, taster events, informative talks and various activities, there is something to suit all and I would encourage everyone to take part and attend as many events as possible. They provide an excellent opportunity to socialise and create connections and try something new. The Council will be illuminating Enniskillen Castle and Strule Arts Centre in purple on 01 October 2024 to recognise International Day for Older Persons and the commencement of Positive Ageing Month. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to ensuring that our older residents lead more independent, engaged and socially active lives. Positive Ageing Month provides an opportunity for us to achieve this and recognise how we can support them. I would like to thank our partners, South West Age Partnership, Western Health and Social Care Trust and Public Health Agency for their ongoing commitment to the Positive Ageing Month initiative. The Council recognises the importance of such partnership working to enable us to deliver a range of activities and events to benefit our residents. Councillor John McClaughry Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Foreword Welcome I am delighted to contribute once again to the Foreword for the Positive Ageing Booklet. This initiative has proven a useful source of information and advice on all things health and wellbeing and positive ageing in the Fermanagh and Omagh District. The Health Improvement Department, within the Western Health and Social Care Trust, works closely with other stakeholders to promote wellbeing for everyone. Only through us working in partnership with local groups and people can we truly make positive changes. This year’s theme, “The part we play”: Celebrating the integral role of older people in our communities, is about celebrating the role you and your friends and neighbours make to improve our community. The time you spend caring for family, neighbours and friends, volunteering at events and participating in programmes all add up to make our neighbourhood a place we call home. I am looking forward to working closely with South West Age Partnership in coming weeks as we allocate grants for Positive Ageing Month. These grants enable community and voluntary groups to create activities that enhance the physical and mental well-being of our older population. Together, we aim to foster a vibrant and inclusive society where every individual can thrive and contribute to community life. I hope you get a chance to benefit from the many excellent programmes that will be available in your community as a result of this work. Seamus Ward Head of Health Improvement, Equality and Involvement for the Western Health & Social Care Trust Can you believe it, a year has zoomed past and it’s Positive Ageing Month again? I have been thinking about ageing well and really we’re so lucky to live in this beautiful part of the world. The Lakeland area never loses its attraction, nor do the beautiful Sperrin mountains. Talking of lakes, it reminds me of my early childhood. My mother and my grandmother were both good rowers and would take us children in the boat, down the lough to any small island for a picnic. If grandad came, I remember him rolling up his trouser legs and wading into the lough with the old black kettle to fill with water for tea. Those were the days when you could do that. The smell of the wood fire, the tea making and the egg sandwiches: what memories that evokes. I am sure many of us have similar memories - these are helping all of us to age positively. Many thanks to the Western Health & Social Care Trust, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the other organisations we work with for all the support to bring you all the fantastic activities you will find within this booklet. I am sure there is something here for everyone. Have a wonderful Positive Ageing Month. Marj Aitken Chairperson (South West Age Partnership) Welcome 3 #positiveageingwest