I hope you’re keeping well. I’m writing to share the resulting essay from the 2022 Age & Opportunity Arts Creative Ageing Writing Bursary, which is intended to afford time and space for an artist to reflect on their practice as it relates to the arts and ageing. In the coming years, we hope to contribute to this growing body of knowledge of the arts and ageing in Ireland as we continue to offer this award. The bursary, worth €1000, was first offered in 2021, and the 2022 awardee is actor and playwright, Noelle Brown. Noelle’s resulting essay reflects on her learnings as an artist while working on her play Creaking with a group of older people. Creaking (named after a conversation with her mother about ageing) was developed with director Oonagh Murphy and dancer/choreographer Emma O’Kane. We hope this essay is a useful resource for you and your colleagues, and that it helps generate discussion and debate about the arts and ageing. In particular, Noelle is very honest about challenging her own biases with regards to older people and ageing, while encouraging other artists to engage in this work. You can read the full essay here, and we would also appreciate if you could share it amongst your networks: https://bealtaine.ie/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/commissioned-writing-list/Creaking-by-Noelle-Brown.pdf Noelle will be speaking at this year’s Bealtaine Gathering on November 15th in Project Arts Centre as part of an artist’s panel on diversity, chaired by writer Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan. Read more and book tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/423515595547

The first survey of its kind into people’s experience in nursing homes has found that residents would like to be more involved in decisions that affect their lives. It was conducted by the Health Information & Quality Authority and involved over 700 residents. | https://bit.ly/3sOE5zS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 Nowhere to go – lack of toilets prevents older people exercising in public spaces Active, News New research published by Age & Opportunity shows older people avoid using public spaces for physical activity due to a lack of access to toilet facilities. Of 200 people interviewed for the research lack of toilets was identified as the main barrier to enjoying the outdoors. The research report entitled ‘Peer Research on Public Spaces’ investigated the barriers and motivators of older people using public spaces for physical activity. It was launched by staff, volunteers and peer researchers of Age & Opportunity along with representatives from Sport Ireland, Westmeath County Council and Arthritis Ireland in Mullingar on 29th September as part of European Week of Sport. “There’s little point in making really beautiful public spaces if older people are not confident to walk around them because there are no clean toilets or comfortable seats to sit on,” said Mary Harkin, Policy, Research, and Evaluation Manager at Age & Opportunity. The research also found that only 54% of older rural dwellers have access to public space within a ten minute walk. This is in contrast to 87% of older people in urban areas. “It may seem counter intuitive that rural residents have less access to open public space. But given their limited access the report calls for specific focus to be given to creating accessible rural public spaces,” said Harkin. The research was conducted using a novel approach in which 14 older people from the Age & Opportunity network worked as citizen researchers. Following training, they each interviewed up to 20 peers. “Older people themselves asked questions of other older people. They chose who they’d interview and also did desk research to find good examples from around the world of where access to public space for older people is working well,” said Harkin. Case studies identified included a hugely positive walking and befriending project in Milton Keynes in which almost a half of participants had fallen and a third had previously been hospitalised; city parks in China where older people account for 50% of those exercising (compared to 15% in the USA); a ‘stepping out together project’ in Canada which built older people’s confidence and core fitness. Age & Opportunity also collaborated with Seamus Mullen of Straight Forward Research in the production of this report. Other key findings of the research include: The main reasons older people access public space are health motivated. Secondary reasons include enjoying scenery and wildlife, spending time in nature, getting out of the house and feeling revitalised. More people (51%) who use outdoor space meet the HSE’s physical activity guidelines for their relevant age group than those (34%) who do not make use of outdoor space. The largest proportion of respondents (over 25%) indicated that the lack of toilet provision was the main barrier preventing them from accessing open space for outdoor recreation. This is consistent with discussion with the peer researchers. It also is an issue which featured prominently in the case studies identified by the researchers. 80% of respondents indicated that they are happy to use the open space which is nearest to them for the purposes of outdoor recreation. Almost all respondents (96%) indicated that they are able to travel to and from public spaces on their own or independently, for example, walk there on their own or drive themselves. However, analysis shows that the ability to travel independently decreases as age profile increases. “During the pandemic it became very obvious that those who had access to public space were better able to get out and be active. What’s needed now is better access for older people to public space. This research highlights the importance of asking people what they think that looks like,” said Harkin. The report recommends that future projects, funding and policy decisions in relation to older people and public spaces take into account the need for on-site physical infrastructure including toilets, handrails and fresh water taps; group-based activities and social connection; safety considerations; transport connectivity; and programme support. All of these create an enabling rather than a disabling environment for everyone – not just older people. Opportunities and supports are needed to encourage older people’s groups to return to physical activity including the provision of enabling environments both indoors and outdoors and the resources and transport infrastructure to avail of them. Find the report here.

https://garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/securing-your-home/ Click link above for some great advice on home security..Browse the site for more info on general security

Click link for latest newsletter Age Friendly Ireland | Newsletter | Friday 28th October

Laois Sports Partnership event during Laois Connects 2022. Location is Portarlington. Pre-registration required. See picture.