Older People

The Western Health Action Zone has prioritised Older People in Need as one of its key target groups. HAZ has undertaken a number of projects for and research pieces on older people over the last four years. The action plan for 2005 - 2007 will concentrate on the following areas of work:

Fuel Poverty - The HAZ will undertake a number of actions to improve energy efficiency and help to reduce fuel poverty.

• A Feasibility Study into how practicable it is for frontline staff to identify and refer clients who they deem are in fuel poverty has been completed (see publications section on the website)
• WHAZ recently participated in a pilot fuel poverty project with the Health Promotion Agency, National Energy Action and the other 3 Health Action Zones in Northern Ireland to develop a fuel poverty toolkit for health professionals.
• The HAZ in partnership with NIEA is currently providing training for Health and Social Services staff and the community and voluntary sector across the Western Board.
• Funding has also been provided to Strabane District Council as part of their Air Quality Initiative to install energy efficiency measures into the homes of older people who fall outside of current grant schemes.

Home Safety - The WHAZ is currently co-ordinating a Western Home Safety Check Scheme across the five District Councils in the Western Board. This is a pilot project which has been operational since September 2003 and targets older people and families with children. The resources allocated to this project have been used to employ 5 Home Safety Officers and to provide equipment on completion of home safety checks.

Transport - The WHAZ is currently facilitating the Western Area Transport Forum. This Forum has just recently been established and it's aim is to provide a forum where statutory agencies, community transport partnerships and other representatives with an interest in transport can come together to consider transport and accessibility issues in the West.

Telecare - In partnership with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, the Health Action Zone has installed 240 Telecare packages in the homes of older people in the Sperrin Lakeland area. The HAZ will continue to lobby for additional funding for Telecare, in particular mainstream funding, to enable more older people to live independently at home with peace of mind.

Reducing Fear of Crime and Personal Injury - HAZ is presented on a number of interagency forums and partnerships across the West in relation to this area of work.

Supporting Older Peoples Groups - WHAZ will support a range of older people's groups and build capacity through expertise, needs assessment, advice, support in funding applications, etc.

The WHAZ co-ordinator for Older People also facilitates the Later Years Sub-Group of Investing for Health.