The Best Way Forward.:
Inclusive Communities for Older People
Hosted by Respond Housing Association , in association with Irish Centre for Social Gerontology NUIG
23 October 2013
McAuley Place in Naas: Bringing Older
Persons to the Heart of a Vibrant
Community
Margharita Solon
Chair and Board Member: Nás na Ríogh Housing Association
• Nás na Ríogh Housing Association (NnRHA) is
a voluntary, not-for-profit association with
charitable status and is affiliated to the Irish
Council for Social Housing.
• It is managed by a voluntary board of
directors.
• The NnRHA development is located at
McAuley Place in Naas, Co. Kildare.
NnRHA’s development at
McAuley Place, Naas
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53 apartments in the centre of Naas town
Community Centre
Arts and Culture Centre
Tea Rooms (‘The Convent Tea Rooms’)
Volunteer Centre
Plans for a Health through Learning Centre
and Garden
Housing in
Community
Better
Future
Well-Being
Ageing in
Place
Health
Inclusive Communities
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What type of housing?
Where? Connected to community? How?
Who for? Us – Us as we age
Relationship between housing and health
Vision for “ageing in place”
Importance of “enabling environments”
Importance of “anti-fragile environments”
Expectation of the unexpected
Well-Being
• Positive initiatives to improve the lives of older
persons
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Positive Ageing Strategy
Healthy Ireland
Age Friendly Counties
OPRAH
Research
Subjective well-being
Importance of adaptation
How to evaluate well-being?
Possible Index to Evaluate Subjective Well-Being
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How many people was I in physical contact today...yesterday...past seven days.
How many people, other than those providing me with support?
How many people did I have a conversation with, who were physically present, that lasted more than 3
minutes, in the past week, month?
Can I go outside my home unaided?
How far can I comfortably walk alone?
How often was I out of my home in the past week?
Did I connect with anyone using technology?
Did I use technology to improve my situation?
Was I physically challenged?
Was I mentally challenged?
Was I socially challenged?
Was there something I wanted to do but could not?
Did I prepare my own meals?
Were my meals brought to me?
Have I been part of or observed dinner being prepared over the past week/month?
Have I eaten alone any day...how many days?
Did I have choice/input into what I ate?
Do I drive?
Do I go to the shops?
Can I get to local shops and services unaided?
If I need assistance to go to shops or services how available is that help?
Etc.
Community Centre
Interior of Community Centre
Expectation of the unexpected!
Arts and Culture Centre
The Convent Tea Rooms
Proposed Health through Learning Centre
Garden
Quotes from volunteers at McAuley Place
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It keeps the mind right.
I enjoy the banter with the staff.
It is a lovely, bright and cheerful place to volunteer in.
It is great to have interaction with people in the Tea Rooms, it
gives me confidence talking with older people.
It was great to have the opportunity to bake, to learn new
skills.
I would say hi to old people if I pass them on the street now. I
used to feel they were looking and judging.
Before I became a volunteer I used to hear the word
"community", I didn't know what it really meant. Through all
of this my world has become bigger and better.
I see all ages mixing in my community cafe and want this to
happen everywhere.
Comments from participants in the
Community Arts Project
• We all have our own little things. You’re getting my inner
thoughts. The happiness I felt in this place is wonderful.
This should continue. There are so many people missing
something.
• I love this place. It’s a very peaceful place.
• I had no grounding. This is a lovely space to come to.
• You can wander in, wander out. It’s so creative.
• It would encourage you to be creative. Through the
weeks here, it’s encouraging. I’ve met so many young
people here!
• This make me feel a lot better, I’m not taking my worries
home with me.
Comments from Tenants
• I have halved my pain medication since I
moved in here.
• There are so many things to do here. It is
great.
• I am secure in a cocoon of acceptance of being
afraid.
• My brother would not be alive today if he had
not moved in here.