NEWKD Home Visitation Service/HSE Community Work Department
On Monday, 22nd of May, 2023, NEWKD Home Visitation Service in conjunction with the HSE Community Work Department hosted a Reconnecting with Services for Older Persons day in Listowel Community Centre.
The focus of the Reconnecting Day was to provide an opportunity for people to connect and engage with peers and engage with the host of services that are available in North Kerry. A myriad of Research shows that Social Engagement can have a positive impact on the psychological, physical and cognitive health in several ways. Studies have shown that older people who have close connections and relationships not only live longer, but also cope better with health conditions and experience less depression. Days like the Reconnecting Day can often be the first step for many to join a local group, a walking club or volunteer in a local activity.
Over 150 older people attended the day which consisted of over 20 information stands from services for older people in the North Kerry and wider Kerry area including: NEWKD’s Home Maintenance, Home Visitation Service, Senior Alert Service and SICAP. Information Stands were also present from Community Health Network 1, Better Balance Better Bones programme, Memory Technology Resource Room, Kerry Local Link, Meals on Wheels, Integrated Care Plan for Older People (ICPOP), Ard Chúram, Men’s Sheds, Kerry’s Call, Alone, Like bikes, Kerry Respite Care and more.
Jimmy Deenihan opened the event with a very informative talk on active aging. Eibhlis Cahalane, Senior Physio with HSE Older Persons Services gave a presentation on the importance of movement in daily life. The final speakers were Catherine Murphy (OT with MTRR) and Dolores McElligott, Team Leader Older Persons, Kerry Community Work Dept. They spoke about Dementia, the signs, symptoms and how Listowel has started becoming a Dementia inclusive community.
Ed O’Connor, NEWKD Home Visitation Co-ordinator said;
“NEWKD were delighted to facilitate today’s event in collaboration with HSE Community Work Department. Our 2nd Reconnecting Event held the same themes as last year in it offers older persons the chance to engage with the fantastic services that are available to them in North Kerry and throughout the county and it also allows us to bring these services together so the connection between the services is stronger and more4 collaborative. We have produced a booklet, which is FREE, that will be available shortly with information about all the services you see here today and many more besides.”
