Have your say on making Carlow a more age-friendly community

ARE you aged 50 or older? If so, Carlow Age Friendly Alliance wants to hear from you.

Together with Carlow County Council, Carlow Older Person’s Forum and other partners, the Alliance is seeking participation in a crucial survey aimed at making a more age-friendly community. The information gathered will inform the upcoming Carlow Age Friendly Strategy 2025-2029.  By sharing your experiences and ideas, you can help identify areas for improvement and advocate for changes that will make Carlow more inclusive and accessible for older adults, directly influence initiatives designed to enhance community life, social connections and access to health and wellness activities.

Local Age-friendly programmes work to provide walkable streets, housing and transportation options, access to key services and opportunities for older people to participate in community activities. By doing so, these communities are better equipped to become great places, and where appropriate lifelong homes, for people of all ages.

The Carlow Age Friendly programme manager Martha Jane Duggan emphasised the importance of community involvement in the initiative: “The survey is designed to gather insights directly from older people about their experiences, needs and preferences. The feedback will be instrumental in shaping future programmes, services and facilities that cater specifically to the older population, ensuring that Carlow continues to be a welcoming and supportive place for everyone, regardless of age.” Coilín O’Reilly, chief executive of Carlow County Council, expressed enthusiasm for the consultation, stating: “Whether you are actively engaged in community life or face challenges in accessing services and activities, your voice matters. This is a valuable opportunity to influence decisions that will impact the quality of life for older adults in Carlow, now and in the future.” The survey, which takes about 15 minutes to complete, is available online and in paper format and needs to be completed by Friday 13 September. See consult.carlow.ie for more information. Paper copies are available at local libraries or on request at 059 9136207 or email agefriendlycarlow@carlowcoco.ie