Health Minister Michelle O’Neill today presented Age NI staff and volunteers with recognition awards for their long service with the charity.
The Minister was visiting Age NI’s Day Centre in Dungannon where she presented awards, met people who use the Centre and discussed a range of issues affecting older people.
Presenting the awards, the Minister said: “Age NI staff and volunteers are to be congratulated for their years of dedication and hard work. Charities like Age NI, working in partnership with health and social care services, are crucial in making a positive impact on older peoples’ health and wellbeing.
“It’s important to incorporate a life-long approach to positive health and active ageing to meet the challenges facing our ageing population. These challenges require new and innovative ways of supporting our older people.”
The Minister also spoke of the community navigators and volunteers helping older people access relevant information and advice about care options as part of the ‘My Life My Way’ project. The project enables people with dementia and their carers to make better informed decisions.
She continued saying; “I want to applaud Age NI for their ‘My Life My Way’ project which provides support to older people with dementia and their carers in the Belfast and Northern Trust areas. The project focuses on promoting the personal autonomy and decision making of older people with dementia that is isolated.”
At the meeting with the Chair of Age NI Eileen Mullan, Chief Executive of Age NI, Linda Robinson the charity’s directors and representatives, the Minister discussed a range of issues, including how best to support older people through the use of day care centres, domiciliary care, and social provision and dementia care.
Notes to editors:
- Age NI is a charity for older people, delivering a range of care services, providing residential, domiciliary and daycare to older people, alongside bespoke projects. It provides a range of information and advice to older people and their families.
- Age NI currently receives funding through the Department of Health’s core grant scheme.
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