Larne woman gets vital home safety check thanks to IMPACTAgewell project

A Larne woman benefitted from a potentially life-saving home safety check thanks to her involvement with a free programme for older people.
Sally Thompson.Sally Thompson.
Sally Thompson.

Sally Thompson was one of the first people to sign up to Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership's IMPACTAgewell ® Project in 2017.

Funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust and the Health and Social Care Board, IMPACTAgewell ® aims to improve the quality of life of older people by providing them with person-centred services that will put their wellbeing and social needs on a par with their medical needs.

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Working with her local IMPACTAgewell® Officer back in 2017, Sally was able to link in with various community groups and organisations that were of benefit and interest to her.

One such connection was made with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a home safety check.

The council’s Home Safety Team assessed Sally’s rental property and, among other safety measures, fitted a carbon monoxide alarm near her boiler.

The installation proved potentially life-saving for Sally - who did not have one of the alarms fitted previously - after it detected a serious problem with her faulty boiler.

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The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service came immediately to Sally’s home and verified that the levels of carbon monoxide coming from the boiler were dangerous.

Steps were put in place to ensure that a safe boiler was installed before Sally would go back home.

Support available through IMPACTAgewell® includes Good Morning services, housing and finance advice, and the development of social activity programmes including online luncheon clubs and handyman services.

Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership works with over 120 older people groups, as well as various voluntary and statutory groups, to identify new projects to benefit the local community.

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If you know anyone over 60 who has a long term health condition and who is a patient of one of the 16 participating GP surgeries, more information on the free programme is available through your local GP or MEAAP on 028 256 58604.

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