Donegal Age
Friendly 'Winter Ready Pack'
08.12.20
DONEGAL Age Friendly
Programme launched their 'Winter Ready Pack', last week. The
Age Friendly Programme works to make Ireland one of the
best places in the world in which to grow old. As the
Covid-19 pandemic continues to linger this puts a huge
impact on services and challenges us as individuals but
especially the older age group, who are continually
being advised to stay safe and in their home away from
friends and family.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Rena Donaghey acknowledged and
commended the great work of older people during the
Covid-19 pandemic: "they have showed great resilience
through 2020 and It is important now to continue your
great work and keep yourself healthy and well as we face
into the winter”.
Earlier this year when Donegal faced into the first national lockdown,
over 7,500 age friendly packs were delivered to
older people all over the county. The Donegal Age
Friendly Alliance is a multi-agency group and have
joined resources again to create a second round of packs only this time it’s a 'Winter Ready
Pack'. This pack, like the first one is designed around
the physical and mental wellbeing of older people living at
home. |
 |
|
Council staff making up the 'Winter Ready
Pack' are L-R, Sharleen Tinney, Róise Ní
Laifeartaigh and Mairead Cranley. |
Specially designed and
created for older people, an advent calendar is
included, which from the 1st of December up till
Christmas day they will open a new door, each of these
doors contain a positive mental health message or task
to carry out that day along with a chocolate reward for
doing so. Nutrition is always very important, included
in the pack, information and simple nutritious recipes
to cook with a packet of porridge and soup provided.
Even though Older People are at home, the age friendly
programme would encourage everyone to wrap up using the
beanie hat supplied, go outside into nature to plant the
daffodil bulbs and feed the birds with the bird seed
that is also inside the pack.
For the days that people cannot get outside, the pack
contains an activity booklet and pencil to keep the mind
active and a simple exercise programme to keep the body
moving. To relax and unwind in the longer evenings, the
pack contains a tea bag, this is to encourage people to
sit back, have your cup of tea and read through the
literature we have provided on security in your home,
keep in contact card and information on the Doorstep
Delivery Service from the Donegal Library Service.
Moving on from the contents of the pack, the most
important message the Age Friendly Programme wants to
get across to the older people living in Donegal is that
they don’t have to face into this winter alone. There
are many services available in Donegal to help you. If
you are lonely and want to talk there is the ALONE
Service, if you have concerns around the increase of
drinking in the home you have the Alcohol Forum, if you
need shopping or prescriptions lifted you have the
community response team. All these services can be
contacted through the Donegal County Council’s Covid-19
Freephone Helpline 1800-928-982 or email
covidsupport@donegalcoco.ie . |
|
