C.O.A.S.T. welcomes NI Commissioner for older people

Claire Keatinge, Commissioner for Older People Northern Ireland, met with members of Causeway Older Active Strategic Team (C.O.A.S.T) during a Strategic Partnership meeting in the Ballymoney Resource Centre.

The Commissioner for Older People discussed her draft plans and 10 priority areas of work supporting older people for the next three years. C.O.A.S.T was pleased to share its plans to improve the lives of older people in the Causeway Coast and Glens.

Elaine Simpson, Age NI Development Manager (Partnerships), said: “C.O.A.S.T was delighted to meet with the very first Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland and to discuss the way forward to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of older people across the local areas.”

She continued: “The network, along with its partners from community, voluntary and statutory agencies, will host a series of information roadshows and events for older people with funds received from a Big Lottery Awards for All grant. This is in response to a recent survey which found that nearly half of older people in the Northern Trust area (45%) say there is lack of opportunities to be socially active in the area. Comments from older people included: “It’s scary getting older, there should be more preparation for old age’, ‘A wee bit of company would be nice, I miss laughing’, and ‘I just look at the TV as there’s nothing else to do!”

Thelma Dillon, Chair of C.O.A.S.T, said: “We’d really urge older people from the Causeway Coast and Glens, who are not part of a group, who do not currently access local services or who may live alone and feel isolated, to get in touch with us.”

To get involved in C.O.A.S.T, please contact Thelma on 028 2076 2359 or for more information about the Age NI regional networks, call Elaine on 079 1204 6534. Sign up to the COAST facebook page at www.facebook.com/coastnetwork and find out about local services and upcoming events.

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