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Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme

The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme aims to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence, for as long as possible. The programme’s ambition is to enable everyone to live longer healthier lives by keeping care close to home and expanding the range of health and social care services in the community.  It is about providing a range of alternatives for older people who may otherwise transition into long term residential care prematurely. 

To do this, we have appointed a Local Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator in all local authorities.  Each Local Coordinator will case manage a support package for each person referred, linking the supports from the variety of public, voluntary, private and community agencies in the area.

The purpose of this referral is to identify an older person who could benefit from some extra help and support in order to continue living in their own home.  The Local Coordinator will carry out a home-based assessment and, in partnership with the older person, will identify and design a range of supports to enable the older person to continue living independently.  This will not affect any current home help, medical card, pension, or other services being received.

These supports include but are not limited to:

Housing – adaptations, rightsizing, minor modifications, home sharing, decluttering, etc.

Medical/Health – GP Visits, illness specific supports, transport to hospital appointments, home help, etc.

Technology – Digital training, connectivity supports, personal alarms, panic buttons, assistive technology etc.

Community – Meals on Wheels, social activities, befriending, community groups, libraries, physical activity, etc.

Climate/Energy – Energy retrofits, grant information, BER Assessments, home heating advice, etc.

Financial – Bills advice, carers supports, pensions, LPT, etc.

Research shows that the majority of people want to remain in their own home as they age. This desire is often challenged by their home not being suitable for the occupier as their needs become more pronounced, their financial means decrease, and their mobility declines. With the right assessment and intervention, the living environment can be changed from being one of health risk to one of health support.

A key aspect of this programme is to reduce the admission rate of people entering long-term residential care due, in the main, to their living environment not supporting their health and wellbeing needs. Accommodation that presents challenges to older people remaining mobile, keeping warm and staying safe can be significant factors in decision making on long-term care.

The Department of Health, Sláintecare and Age Friendly Ireland (Meath County Council) have rolled out this joint programme ‘Healthy Age Friendly Homes’, across all Local Authority areas.

  1. Enable older people to continue living in their homesor in a home more suited to their needs (Rightsizing)
  2. Live with a sense of independence and autonomy
  3. Be and feel part of their Community
  4. Support the avoidance of early or premature admissionto long term residential care

What are the benefits to you?

  • Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinators will carry out a needs assessment to establish what supports are required to enable you to continue living independently in your own home for longer
  • A person-centred support plan will be developed post assessment
  • If you feel your home is no longer suitable and you would like to move to a more appropriate home, the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator can provide you with information on right sizing within your community/county/city.
  • They can provide information on adapting your existing home and the relevant grants available to support you to make those changes, with a focus on universal design and energy efficiency,
  • They can provide you with access to a range of housing, health and social care supports to help you decide on what you need to enable you to live the life you want to the best of your ability within your community.

For all queries please contact the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Admin team
Telephone: 046 924 8899
Email:

To learn more about the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, Please click here.