New strategy launched to make Galway ‘a great place to grow old in’
The Galway councils have teamed up to make improvements to the every day lives of the elderly community with a new Age Friendly Strategy.
The strategy, presented by Galway County Council in conjunction with Galway City Council at a recent meeting, sets out eight key objectives focusing on the physical environment, social connectivity, and community health services.
County Galway is the most populous county in the region, with 26pc of its population aged over 55 in 2022. Much of that group live in Connemara and Ballinasloe.
An inclusive consultation process was carried out to ensure a broad range of voices were heard. This included feedback groups with older adults living with disabilities, Traveller communities, socially isolated individuals and those in full-time residential care.
Six age-friendly workshops and poster campaigns were also rolled out, attracting 440 submissions. Most survey respondents were between 55 and 74.
Key concerns emerged from the consultation. Half of those surveyed said they had poor access to outdoor and public spaces. Mobility was another issue, with 71pc reporting difficulties getting around in their local area. Complaints ranged from inadequate bus services and a lack of wheelchair spaces on buses, to poor signage and unlit streets, which were seen as particularly unsafe on rural roads.
Social inclusion also featured strongly. While 80pc of respondents said they were active participants in their community, one in five reported experiencing some form of age-based discrimination. Levels of social disconnectedness were found to be higher in the county than in Galway city.
Digital exclusion was another theme, with 40pc of those aged 75 and older saying they were not comfortable using digital technology. Many cited the fear of being scammed as the main barrier.
In response, the strategy sets out a series of key actions for delivery over its five-year term. These include: maximising the use of green spaces and improving beach access; increasing disabled and age-friendly parking spaces; developing improved bus services and shelters; providing one-to-one assistance to support independent living; delivering more age-friendly housing options; promoting and upgrading day centres.
The programme will run under the guidance of the Older People’s Council (OPC) and the Age Friendly Alliance within the local authority.
Councillors broadly welcomed the strategy, praising Galway’s ambition to remain “a great place to grow old in”.