What is Ageing Well?

Ageing Well seeks to pioneer innovative combinations of housing, care and social support services for older people and ultimately prove the value of an integrated pathway of support for individuals as they age. In essence, this involves enabling referral and access to services tailored to older people’s housing, care and social needs with the aim of enhancing their lives and enabling them to have extended years in their home environment. This project is led by Dublin Central Mission (DCM) in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the HSE, and supported by Southside Partnership and Changing Lives DLR.

Why is it important?

Like the rest of Ireland, the population of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is ageing. While continual improvement in health outcomes that increase life expectancy is to be welcomed, it is clear that current models of accommodation and social care in later life need significant change and innovation. Dependence on hospitals and nursing homes is neither a sustainable nor desirable solution for those who need some support to live well as they grow older.

It is well known that models of care that support ageing in place deliver significantly better health outcomes, and that services are more cost effective when delivered locally. Our aim is to help enable Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown be one of the first counties to pioneer innovative models of ageing well in place, using an integrated approach. The idea is to ensure that people needing supports and services can access them as needed and live independently in their homes and communities with dignity for as long as possible.

What is the opportunity?

DCM are leaders in supported independent living. Residents in their independent living campus in Glenageary receive innovative health and social care support to enable them to maintain their independence and community engagement. DCM are in the process of taking over and running a day service at Beaufort, a social sheltered housing community located in Glasthule, with plans for two further sites.

DCM’s vision for Ageing Well in Place is to test three care concepts that model greater integration of services at Beaufort and at two other sites in the county.  The model will test:

• the effectiveness of having supports in place in social sheltered housing, to enhance the lives of the residents, avoid placement issues and transfers to other settings, including hospital and/or long-term care
• the value of greater engagement with the wider community through outreach and in reach initiatives, including social prescription and connection
• the need for, and value of, a health and social care needs assessment for those on council waiting lists for social sheltered accommodation so that clients are referred to appropriate housing and supports.

This initiative is being piloted over two to three years. Critical to its success will be baseline research to establish the needs of residents, review existing supports and identify issues and services, as well as establishing a methodology for ongoing data capture and analysis, and metrics for monitoring and evaluation.  It is essential that the model is well documented to assess its impact and suitability for replication. Changing Lives DLR is particularly committed to supporting this work through which we hope to identify, and subsequently promote, effective and proven models to support ageing well in place.

If you are interested in helping us to expand this work further, or to  learn more about Ageing Well in Place in the county, please contact us.