Interview with Kieran Kehoe, Meath County Council Chief Exec: the eight domains of the Age Friendly Programme

Recently, the LGIU sat down with Meath County Council’s Chief Executive, Kieran Kehoe, to discuss the Age Friendly Programme, for our upcoming Future Local Lab documentary ‘A place for everybody: Ireland’s Age Friendly ambition for Croke Park and beyond’.

In 2018, after a competitive process with other Irish local authorities, Meath County Council became the host local authority for the Age Friendly Ireland (AFI) Shared Service. In effect, this means Meath County Council hosts, manages, develops and delivers the Age Friendly Programme across the entire local authority sector of Ireland.

The Age Friendly Programme was created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2007. During this period, the WHO developed a framework outlining governmental responsibilities for preparing for population ageing and demographic changes. The WHO outlined eight key domains that should be at the heart of creating an Age Friendly environment.

1. Social participation
2. Respect and social inclusion
3. Civic participation and employment
4. Communication and information
5. Community support and health services
6. Outdoor spaces and buildings
7. Transportation
8. Housing.

During the interview, Kieran unpacked how Age Friendly Ireland is delivering to each of the eight domains. This article recounts Kieran’s insights.

Social participation / Respect and social inclusion

“How do we make sure that older people become part of our societies? That their voice is heard? That what they want is heard?”

Ensuring the active involvement and consideration of older people in societal development is a key goal of the Age Friendly Programme. To address this, Ireland’s local Older Persons Councils are a key mechanism facilitating social participation, and respect and social inclusion for the older community of Ireland. The councils are effectively local authority committees formed, led and chaired by older people, set up across each of Ireland’s 31 local authorities. Decisions made by these councils are communicated through a national regional system, ensuring the voices of older people are heard and their needs recognised. “Everything we do in relation to social participation, and respect and social inclusion is fed back to us here at Age Friendly Ireland”, Kieran explains. He goes on to highlight that within Ireland, numerous “community facilities and services are built and designed to accommodate older people, as determined by older people.”

Kieran praises the councils for fostering social participation, inclusion, and respect for older people in Ireland. Highlighting how their development “gives older people a core voice in relation to what they need and what they want in their local areas.”

Civic participation and employment

AFI’s Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme plays a vital role in promoting civic participation and employment for the older community of Ireland. Kieran’s specifies that the Programme is open to employers, retailers and service providers, and is focused on ensuring businesses of any kind are friendly and accommodating towards the older customer. By offering awareness and training to all those in the business on the needs of older individuals, the program ensures they receive the necessary support to maintain their daily routines and remain active members of their communities.

Summarising, Kieran states, “Ultimately, the older person shouldn’t be in any way disenfranchised just based on the fact that they’re of an older age.” He emphasises that offering tailored support and understanding the needs of older people helps them navigate their daily lives with greater ease, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement within their communities. As Kieran asserts, “Having those little bits of extra support and consciousness of the needs of the older person means it’s easier for them to shop, go about their everyday business, and continue living in their communities. These small things make an awful lot of difference.”

Communication and information

As mentioned, the establishment of the Older Persons Councils has created an effective local communication channel for older individuals to voice their concerns and desires directly to local representatives within each of Ireland’s 31 local authorities. This local feedback loop, led by each council’s chair, provides Age Friendly Ireland (AFI) with “real, earnest feedback” and invaluable insight into the daily challenges faced by older people. As Kieran explains, “the process creates an effective communication channel that can help determine real, lasting change.”

Kieran further emphasises the importance of listening to the experiences of older individuals when designing age-friendly initiatives, observing that, “unless you’re in the situation, in their shoes, you can’t always think of what is needed.” The communication and information sharing facilitated by the Older Persons Councils are crucial in designing tailored Age Friendly programs and initiatives, suited specifically to each community’s needs. By incorporating the voices of older people into decision-making processes, AFI ensures that the implemented solutions are both relevant and impactful.

Community support and health services

Community support and health services are fundamental aspects of the Age Friendly Programme. Working closely with critical partners like the Health Service Executive and the Department of Health, AFI strives to improve the lives of older individuals by focusing on local living. By promoting independent living, AFI helps reduce the demand on state-provided care services, benefiting both the state and the individuals. As Kieran Kehoe notes, “Being able to support them to live longer in their own homes is a huge benefit to the state, but more importantly, it is a huge benefit to the individuals themselves.”

Across Ireland’s 31 local authorities, dedicated local AFI Programme Managers and Healthy Age Friendly Homes Officers conduct home visits to older individuals to discuss their specific needs and inform them of the various support options available. Assistance includes financial aid, home improvements, access to essential services and grants, such as the Sustainable Energy Authority Grant for house retrofitting. These officials will arrange everything from fuel or care allowances to personal alarms, ensuring older people are aware of the help available to them and providing guidance throughout the process.

Kieran highlights how this support is effective because it is a trusted service: “They [older people] know that they have someone from their own local authority coming out to them, who is a trusted state employee and will give them clear advice on what’s available to them.” He further emphasises that the individual’s choice is paramount, adding, “They’re not being pushed, they’re just being advised and supported throughout the whole process.”

This individual-focused and locally-driven approach ensures that older people have access to clear information and personalised assistance, significantly impacting their daily lives. As Kehoe asserts, “Making their lives better is what we’re trying to do here, and, I believe, what we are doing here on a daily basis.” AFI continues to create more inclusive and supportive environments for older people nationwide through these dedicated efforts.

Outdoor space and buildings

AFI believes that everyone should have equal access to all community spaces, and that ensuring age friendly outdoor spaces and buildings is crucial for the older population. As Kieran expresses, “Older people should be able to comfortably go for a walk in the park with their family or socialise with their peers.” This is why it is essential that buildings and outdoor spaces are designed with the needs of older people in mind.

One exemplary age-friendly service provided by Irish local authorities is the library system. Every library in Ireland is an Age Friendly Library, prioritising accessibility and support for older patrons. Kieran highlights the importance of these trusted spaces, stating, “Ireland’s Age Friendly Libraries not only offer a space to see friends, but also provide older people with support services.”

Initiatives like providing iPads for home use and training library staff to assist with basic technology skills demonstrate Age Friendly Ireland’s commitment to supporting older people in navigating the modern world. While younger generations may take technology literacy for granted, this service offers a unique level of assistance which is invaluable to older people who may be less familiar with such devices. As Kieran proudly shares, “This service shows how the Age Friendly Programme goes beyond basic support, and provides that extra level of assistance to give the older person the skills and confidence to comfortably exist within modern society. This is a service delivered every day in the library system in Ireland.”

Transport

Recognising that mobility can become challenging with age, the Age Friendly Programme places great importance on accessible and supportive transportation systems. Collaborating closely with the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport, Kieran stressed the critical role these partnerships play in creating age-friendly transportation solutions.

Initiatives like the Irish Rural Link have introduced more bus routes to rural areas, improving access to essential services such as hospitals, care centres and town centres. Kieran stresses that “Irrespective of where these people live, they should have the ability to hop onto a bus easily… It’s important that the service is brought to them if they want it.”

Ensuring free transport and convenient access for older individuals is a priority of AFI and Ireland’s local authorities. Over the past few years, transport links have expanded significantly across local authority systems. By working with partners, AFI continues to drive progress through targeted improvements. As Kieran explains, these improvements include ensuring bus stops are within walking distance for everyone, and the transport services can take them into town, or, in more acute health iterations, providing people with transport services to residential care homes on a more supportive service basis. It is evident that the Age Friendly Programme is dedicated to addressing the daily needs of older individuals through these critical initiatives, which may otherwise go under the radar.

Housing

AFI’s Healthy Age Friendly Homes Initiative exemplifies the importance of designing living environments that cater to older people’s needs. As Kieran notes, by using universal design principles when designing for older individuals, AFI ensures that homes are not only suitable for older individuals but also create accessible spaces for everyone. He specifies features like wider doorways and step-free access to outdoor spaces, stating, “All these little things can just make life that little bit easier for people when they’re in that age bracket.”

Retrofitting homes to be more comfortable, cost-efficient and sustainable contributes to the well-being of older people, allowing them to live independently in their homes for longer periods. Kieran explains that these improvements and changes are “hugely important for older people… it ultimately keeps them in their homes for many, many years”, much longer than they would’ve previously. The success of the initiative is evident, as Kieran proudly notes, “The success of our Healthy Age Friendly Homes Initiative has been phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. So much so that we have to engage and employ even more people nationally to support a number of requests that we’re getting in. The impact is huge.”

In partnership with the Department of Housing, AFI also utilises the Disabled Persons Grant system to address the housing needs of older individuals. Kieran emphasises the Department of Housing’s essential role within the AFI National Advisory Group, identifying areas for improvement and allocating necessary resources.

Addressing Ireland’s broader housing situation, Kieran points out how house sizing is another issue AFI is responding to, explaining that many older people find themselves in homes that no longer suit their needs, often being too large after family members move out.. In response to this, AFI facilitates the relocation of older individuals within their communities to smaller, more suitable homes. This approach allows them to maintain their community connections while freeing up larger homes for families (also helping to alleviate the housing crisis). While addressing multiple issues at once, Kieran instils that a significant benefit of this initiative is maintaining community connection for older people. By preserving a sense of community, AFI fosters an environment where older people are comfortable and happy. “It creates a sense of community – that is the big thing that helps them live and sustain their life longer, happier and healthier”, Kieran passionately concludes.

Thank you to the Councils

The AFI has shown a remarkable dedication to enhancing the lives of older individuals, and it’s evident that the WHO’s eight key pillars are very much at the heart and centre of the entire AFI Programme. The Programme’s success in fostering inclusivity, promoting community connections and addressing the unique needs of older people really has contributed to building a more supportive and empowering society for all. As Kieran concluded his interview, he expressed his gratitude to his 30 other Chief Executive colleagues across the local authorities of Ireland. It’s clear their dedication and involvement have been, and will continue to be, essential to the Programme’s achievements. Kehoe proudly states, “Without their buy-in, without their support, the Age Friendly Programme would not be what it is today.” He goes on to emphasise his appreciation, “The success wouldn’t be achieved unless they all give that strong support and commitment to the Programme… So it’s a ‘words of thanks’, because without that support, the Programme wouldn’t have achieved what it’s achieved in such a phenomenally quick space of time.” With continued commitment and collaboration, the Age Friendly Programme will undoubtedly continue to make a lasting impact on the well-being and quality of life for older people in Ireland.