Positive Age are delighted to welcome Minister Brendan Smith to launch our 20th Anniversary programme of events on Tuesday 22nd January in The Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan.

Positive Age Limited is a voluntary organisation with charitable status, which develops and supports initiatives that promote the reduction of isolation and encourage participation in a programme of social gain for older people and strives to raise public awareness and understanding of older people’s needs and values.

Cavan and Monaghan have a total of 14, 757 people over the age of 65. With in excess of 35 percent of the 70 year olds living alone in rural areas, the risk of isolation is increased. Positive Age has included measures to address this issue in our 3 Year Business Plan.

Consultation processes have been undertaken to identify the changing needs of older people. The findings have been used to inform and shape services provided. Additionally, the ongoing process of needs identification is undertaken in consultation and in partnership with older people themselves, their families, carers and representatives to ensure the development and delivery of person-centred services, which are responsive to user preferences and needs.

It is the role of Positive Age Ltd. to develop initiatives that promote the reduction of isolation and stigmatisation associated with Ageing by promoting social gain for the older people and raising public awareness and understanding of older people’s needs and values.

Our vision includes the concept that every older person in Cavan and Monaghan would be able to access a responsive programme of Health and Social Gain. Our Mission is to enrich the lives of all older people in Cavan and Monaghan through participation in programmes that inform, educate, entertain and recognise their values talents and contribution to society.

Our Values include Quality, Client focus, Social responsibility, Mutual support, Sustainability, Respect, Encouragement and Equality.
Our aims are: To be sustainable, To provide a programme of lifelong learning, To Combat isolation and aloneness, To challenge negative attitudes to ageing, To encourage physical activity, To provide opportunities for participation in arts and Cultural activities, To bridge the generation gap, To enhance health and well-being and To specifically target the needs of Older Men.

OUR PRODUCTS / SERVICES:

HEALTH PROMOTION
Provision of health promoting/quality of life programs including the implementation of the Home Safety program. A major emphasis is on supporting Older Men to attend Health Information sessions and encourage them to undertake responsibility for their own health and welfare.

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION:
In addition to keeping Older People updated with Positive Age information, the organisation also distributes information from the HSE Health Promotion and other HSE departments. Other organisations also use this service such as Age and Opportunity and Age Action Ireland. Positive Age also facilitates Health Promotion by ensuring participation of Older People from Cavan and Monaghan in all Health Promotion seminars and workshops and Grant application forms from various Government departments and County Councils.
We disseminate information to raise awareness in relation to Vaccinations, in an effort to promote the uptake of the influenza vaccine and a need for Cancer awareness (specifically targeting men) among the population aged over 65years.
Irish Universities also avail of this service in order to undertake research relating to Older Peoples issues.

BEALTAINE:
The Bealtaine festival is a National cultural event, held in May, which aims to encourage and celebrate creativity in Older Age. Positive Age enables Older People in Cavan and Monaghan to participate in classes and sessions each winter to develop their skills in areas where they previously did not have an opportunity to do so. All work is exhibited during the Bealtaine Festival, which is open to the public. In order to raise awareness of the event a celebrity is invited to launch the exhibitions. All groups and individuals associated with Positive Age are invited to participate. Refreshments are served and entertainment is combined with the event. Positive Age also have a programme in conjunction with the National Gallery of Ireland. This programme provides tutors to work on an outreach basis with Older People in Cavan and Monaghan.

PERFORMING ARTS:
The Performing Arts Programme affords an opportunity for individuals and groups of Older People to participate in concert performances, Light Drama and recitations. All talent is accepted and advantages include the many rehearsals required, providing opportunities to meet others and gain confidence. Plays, sketches, music and dance bring Older People together enabling personal development. A performing arts event is staged in each County in October/November each year. All groups are encouraged to participate. A programme is published for each event. Background support, stage/set staff, supporting musician, lighting, sound, photography and video recording are provided. A light meal is also served.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
Positive Age facilitates the provision of the Go for Life programme in conjunction with HSE Health Promotion personnel. Leaders from voluntary groups are trained who in turn teach the exercise programme in their respective Day Centres. Training workshops are held and all groups are encouraged to nominate at least 2 leaders for training. Both induction and follow-on training is provided as appropriate for each group. The groups then receive continuous support from the project worker to ensure continuity of the programme and to address any concerns.

Dancing classes continue to be provided in The Centre for Social Gain. These classes have proved to be very popular and numbers enrolling are increasing all the time. Dancing is a fun-filled healthy exercise and has many benefits.
The walking group continues to receive support and encouragement. This group utilises the Sli na Slainte walkways.
A golfing/pitch n putt group has been established and discounted rates have been negotiated in Cavan for Positive Age members. Classes continue for existing members and beginner’s classes will commence in the Springtime for those wishing to join this programme.

The bowling group are extremely active and consistently use the facilities provided in St Felim’s. This group continue to be supported and they will facilitate the training of outreach groups in bowling. They have now reached the standard where they can compete in countywide competitions.

EDUCATION:
Computer classes continue at three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced. There is an important social aspect to these classes also and refreshments are always provided.

History classes include lectures in Centre for Social Gain and field trips to places of interest. There is a growing interest in this class and it will continue to run throughout 2008.

CREATIVE ARTS:
Positive Age developed a Creative Arts Programme with The Abbey Theatre. This then developed into a joint initiative with H.S.E., the Abbey Theatre and Positive Age. The programme is ongoing with members participating in Affairs of the Arts at National level and continuing workshops facilitated in the Abbey Theatre. Work was completed in 2005 on the publication of “Stories of the Drumlins”. This play was scripted by Dermot Healy totally from the wordings of the Positive Age drama group. The play was staged in the Abbey and ran for a week in the Peacock theatre in Dublin. RTE Radio transmitted the play and it also featured in the National newspapers. The publication of the play is a real source of pride to the people involved, who ranged in age from 60 to 93.

LIFELONG LEARNING:
A programme established in 1996 to provide an opportunity for Older People to gain confidence in travel and for those who have no companions to accompany them. Trips to date:
1996 Holland
1997 Belgium
1998 Denmark, Sweden
1999 France
2000 Czech Republic
2001 Italy/ Vatican
2002 Hungary, Austria
2003 Poland, Slovakia
2004 Greece
2005 Croatia/ Bosnia
2006 Turkey
2007 Switzerland/France/Germany and Liechtenstein
Numbers travelling have increased from 42 in 1996 to 188 in 2007

AWARDS CEREMONY:
Positive Age host an Annual Gala night of recognition of the achievements and participation of Older People in our Annual programme of events. Awards are presented in all areas of involvement. Awards include Merit, Individual and Group and are aimed at encouraging participation. The Positive Age person of the Year award is also presented at this event.

SENIOR HELP LINE:
A National listening service provided by Older people for Older People from a different centre on each day of the week. Thirty-two Positive Age volunteers have been trained and answer the telephone lines each Tuesday on a rota basis from the offices in the Centre for Social Gain.

ACDM PROJECT:
A cross-border programme which links all Positive Age groups in Cavan and Monaghan with twelve groups of Older People in Co. Tyrone and nine groups in Co. Armagh. The management committee includes representatives of Older People from all Counties involved along with Health Service representatives from both North and South of the border and Positive Age and Forum staff. Cross-border exchanges, competitions and cultural events are included in the programme which has so far been supported by Armagh City Council, Dungannon District Council, Monaghan County Council, Cavan County Council, Co-operation Ireland and the H.S.E. North East. UTV broadcast one of the Social Exchanges.
O.M.O. IRELAND: The Older Men’s Organisation of Ireland
Positive Age established A National Older Men’s Organisation in 1999 with funding from The United Nations Year of Older Persons committee. The main aim is to address issues specific to Older Men with a focus on promotion of men’s health and well-being. The programme for 2008 includes Health promotion talks and activities to combat isolation, exchanges, Foreign Trip, educational events and a focus on raising awareness in Older Men regarding issues relating to Health and Social Gain.

CULTURAL EVENTS:
Positive Age participates in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade with the focus on providing Older People with the opportunity to promote ageing as a positive experience. Two floats are decorated and Older People along with the Positive Age entertainment group provide the entertainment.

FAS COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEME:
Cavan Community Town Community Employment Scheme is a training programme for the unemployed to enable them to learn skills and return to employment while simultaneously providing assistance to organisations in need of support. Positive Age has been involved in the programme since 1995 and currently have four participant places on the scheme. Positive Age has the best record of the 10 sponsors of placing participants into full time employment.
All employees will continue to be supported and encouraged to receive training. These employees provide the necessary admin back-up as well as catering and social contact for Older People and groups. They work flexible hours to suit the programme.

RURAL SOCIAL SCHEME:
This is a programme to support those in low income from the farming community and to support voluntary committees needing staff. Positive Age currently has 1 worker on this scheme.

ENTERTAINMENT GROUP:
A group of younger volunteers was formed a number of years ago to who provide practical back-up to Positive Age for events and engage in fund-raising performances. Highlights have included mock weddings, fancy dress balls, Christmas carol performances in residential centres and fashion shows from bygone eras. This group continue to operate and have been requested to provide entertainment for residential centres as well as private nursing homes.

CENTRE FOR SOCIAL GAIN:
The Centre for Social Gain was Officially opened in 1999 by Mr Tom Moffett TD, Minister for Older People. The centre is invaluable as a drop in facility and as a venue for organised activities. All Positive Age groups have access to the centre. It is administered by Positive Age and includes two large areas for socialising and bowling, Video and Book Library, a Computer suite, a Kitchen, Cavan Town CE Office, Two Senior Help-Line offices and staff office accommodation.

EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES:
Over the years Positive Age has acquired wheelchairs, sound and video equipment, lighting equipment and a complete wardrobe department. All Positive Age groups use these items. The wheelchairs are invaluable to groups going on trips or exchange visits. Sound equipment is used for Positive Age functions. All groups use the costumes for concerts and entertainment. Positive Age administer all the hiring and return of these items to all the Community Groups.

VOLUNTARY NETWORKING:

Positive age provides an invaluable network for groups not only within Cavan but also throughout Ireland North and South and in other countries where stable contacts have been established.

VOLUNTEER BUREAU:
Positive Age established the Volunteer Bureau to help address the needs of voluntary groups providing services to Older People. The Bureau aims to assist groups to recruit suitable volunteers and aims to encourage volunteerism. The project worker deals with matching volunteers with groups, assists with training and on-going support and ensures efficient operation of volunteers within the groups.

ADVOCACY PROGRAMME:
Positive Age in collaboration with the HSE established an Advocacy Project in 2007 including the provision of an Advocacy worker for Older People. This is an area that heretofore was unaddressed in Cavan. Through this programme Positive Age are linking with the H.S.E and Cavan County Partnership to deliver a programme that will train people to become advocates for Older People. This in turn will address the deficit in people being unaware of their entitlements and support them to deal with Government Departments or other service providers.

INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMME:
Positive Age has an Intergenerational Programme in operation for a number of years. This programme is aimed at youth and in particular transition year students, to raise awareness of Older People, to combat ageism, to challenge negative attitudes to ageing and to link the generations. Positive Age linked with St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School in Cootehill in 2007 and the students will make a major contribution to the 20th year Celebrations.

WEB PAGE:
Positive Age has a Web site www.positiveage.net for distribution and receiving of data Nationally and Internationally.

GOOD MORNING PROJECT:
Positive Age identified the need to establish the Good Morning Project through a continuous assessment programme which commenced in 2004. This assessment programme looked at the needs of Older People, those directly involved in the programme of events as well as those who do not participate in events but have social contact with Positive Age. Quantitative and qualitative research was carried out, which established the need. The research was compiled using survey questionnaires with Older People, interviews with family carers, feedback from volunteers as well as liaison with Health professionals. Consultation also took place with other voluntary groups working with Older People.

Research also included examination of other projects in Ireland and the U.K. in terms of costs, training, recruitment of volunteers, management of the service, equipment requirements and technical issues. This project will be launched in February and will cover Cavan, Monaghan and Meath.