Setting out a plan for our older generation
THE Wexford Age Friendly Alliance have launched the ‘Age Friendly Strategy’, a plan to meet the needs of older people in the South East, at the headquarters of the County Council last week.
Wexford County Council is committed to ensuring that this county is a great place to grow old and, as members of the multi-agency Wexford Age Friendly Alliance, have helped produce the strategy.
Wexford’s age friendly strategy will be delivered with reference to the World Health Organisation’s guidelines, based around themes of, transport, housing, social participation and safety and security.
The objectives contained in the five-year strategy will be implemented through an action plan to prioritise short, medium and long-term initiatives. The goal is to make a difference for the older people living in the villages and towns across Wexford.
The development of the plan is timely as the number of older people is expected to rise significantly over the coming decades.
The Central Statistics Office predicts that the ‘65 plus’ age for the South East will increase from 12.5 per cent in 2011 to 22 per cent in 2031, indicating the urgent need to plan for the needs of older people.
The Wexford Age Friendly Strategy articulates the views of more than 650 people aged over 55, collected through public consultations that were held in 27 locations across Wexford.
The implementation of the strategy will be through a collaborative, multi-agency approach including the statutory, voluntary and community sector.