Protection of Older People in the Community Presentation to: Joint - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presentation to: Joint Policing Committee 12th February 2018

Protection of Older People in the Community

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

WHY HAVE AN AGE FRIENDLY STRATEGY?

• Life expectancy is rising faster in Ireland

than anywhere in EU.

• By 2041, 25% of the population will be over

65 (12% now).

• The population over 80 will increase by

400% by 2041.

• 1 in 3 Newborns will live to 100.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

A GLOBAL EFFORT TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE

• In 2007 the World Health

Organisation established a Global Framework for Age Friendly Cities & Communities.

• In 2013 the Dept. Health

developed the National Positive Ageing Strategy.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

WHO RECOMMENDS A ‘DELIVERY FRAMEWORK’ INVOLVING MULTI-AGENCY APPROACH FOR IRELAND TO BECOME TRULY AGE-FRIENDLY ALL SECTORS OF SOCIETY, GOVERNMENT, SERVICE PROVIDERS, LOCAL AUTHORITIES, POLICE AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC MUST BE INVOLVED.

WE ALL HAVE OUR PART TO PLAY.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme AGE FRIENDLY ALLIANCE BOARD The Board comprises senior decision makers from public and not-for-profit organisations:

Shared Vision: To make Clare a great County in which to grow old.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

The Age Friendly Alliance works closely with the Older People’s Council The Role of the Older People’s Council:

• To represent the voice of older people in Clare at local &

national level

• Prioritise key areas for implementation
• Monitor the objectives of the Clare Age Friendly Strategy

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Crime Prevention and Safety

• f Older People:
• A ‘Crime Prevention and Safety’ checklist has been developed

by Gardaí in partnership with the Clare Library Network.

• Issued to older people with a focus on personal safety and

safety in the home.

• Available through the 16 branch libraries, local events and

distributed by An Post.

• Names of local Postmen & Postwomen established by Gardaí

in Ennis, Ennistymon & Kilrush. They were briefed by Gardaí to identify anything of suspicious nature and how to report concerns.

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Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch:

Community Gardaí are attached to each scheme in each Garda district. Core Function:

• To facilitate communication and thereby

assist in the prevention of crime.

• To reduce people’s fear of becoming a

victim of crime ensuring a better quality

• f community life.

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Text Alert Scheme:

• Originally piloted in Ennistymon, now operating

throughout North & West Clare.

• In East Clare the Scarriff scheme combines 10

groups who have amalgamated – working well.

• Promotion of ‘Text Alert’ by engaging with

communities at local meetings.

• Particularly successful in rural areas.

Community contact forwards ‘Alert’ to group.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

New Strategy 2018 – 2022 - Draft Six suggested ‘Action Areas’ to develop a strong & vibrant Age Friendly County:

• Age Friendly Town (Ennis)
• Age Friendly Rural Initiatives
• Health & Wellness of older people
• Age Friendly Business Programme
• Age Friendly Annual Exhibition (of services)
• Age Friendly Airport (Shannon)

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

What the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative (HaPAI) Survey found in Clare:

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

Breakdown of HaPAI data:

• However the survey found that a total of 21.6% of

all urban respondents felt unsafe (day or night) compared with 10.1% of rural respondents (countryside or village).

• Women in urban areas were most likely to feel

unsafe (25.6%) and this was mostly explained by feeling unsafe ‘out and about’ at night. By comparison, less than 10% of women living in

• pen countryside or villages feel unsafe ‘out and

about’.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

What Older People told us: Older People said they felt they could achieve a greater sense of safety in their homes and greater connection with the community by:

• Becoming more active
• Being involved in the development of local neighbourhood watch

schemes

• Having Text alert in their Community
• Expanding the current ‘Community Alert’ system into more rural areas
• Developing closer relationships with the local Gardaí
• Reducing threat of bogus callers - Developing a list of readily available,

reliable, reasonably priced, trustworthy trades people in each community

• Increasing Gardaí community presence
• Developing a home-calling programme

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

Age-Friendly Urban Safety Initiatives

• Extend Urban Community Policing
• Expand ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ schemes
• Provide designated Parking for Older People closer to

town

• Develop Age-Friendly Town Bus Service
• Combat sub-conscious fear of groups of young people -

develop Intergenerational Projects (e.g. TY students)

• Combat fear arising from sense of isolation - expand

current Befriending services e.g. Clarecare ‘Conas atá Tú’

• Address fear of falling down - Pavement Surfacing, etc.

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Clare Age Friendly Programme

Age-Friendly Rural Safety Initiatives

• Combat fear of Rural isolation - increase Transport options in

Rural areas

• Expand ’Community Alert’ and ’Text Alert’ Schemes
• Expand and Modernise Seniors’ Alert Scheme (e.g. Pendant

Alarms)

• Combat fear arising from sense of isolation - expand current

Befriending services e.g. Clarecare ‘Conas atá Tú’

• Combat sub-conscious fear of groups of young people -

develop Intergenerational Projects (e.g. TY students)

• Develop lighted Bus Shelters in Rural Areas
• Develop multi-agency community centres, to include Garda

clinics

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The active participation of Community Gardaí is critical to gaining and maintaining the confidence of the community.

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