Since Mayo signed up to the Age Friendly Programme in 2013, significant work has been done to promote awareness of the age friendly programme and to encourage healthy and active ageing in County Mayo. This includes:
1. Members of Mayo’s Older Peoples Council in conjunction with Mayo Sports Partnership have set up a monthly Go For Life Games in Swinford, Co. Mayo.
Go For Life Games encourage older people to get involved and be active.
What is unique about this particular Go For Life Games club is that it includes a wide range of people – participants from the day care centre, from the residential care setting, from the local active retirement group take part in the games each month.
2.Public Realm Walkability Studies so that our public buildings and spaces are conducive to being out and about.
3. Arts & Culture Workshops so that older people have an opportunity to engage in cultural activities
4. Social Inclusion Seminar to create awareness of the importance of building socially inclusive communities in Mayo.
5. Drive Safer for Longer Programme to help boost the confidence of older drivers to continue driving for as long as possible.
6. Improving communications between the Gardai and Older People so that older people feel safe in their communities.
7. Providing older people the opportunity to take part in further educational programmes through the Community Educational initiative facilitated by Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education board.
8. 2018 saw the beginning of the roll out of Age Friendly Parking in Mayo. Local supermarkets are interest in getting on board and it is anticipated that Age Friendly parking will be provided at a number of locations in the coming year.
9. A cultural project that proved quite successful in 2018 is the heARTh project. This initiative brings art into the homes of older people who are isolated geographically or restricted for other reasons. Each week, participants are visited by an artist who is experienced in working with older people. The Hearth project has significantly impacted on positive mental health and social inclusion of vulnerable people.