Age Concern Causeway

From dementia support groups to lunch clubs, The Ireland Funds is helping Age Concern Causeway  deliver an array of key services to older people in the Causeway and Glens area of Northern Ireland. For over 40 years, Age Concern Causeway has been improving the quality of life and combating the social isolation of older people in Northern Ireland.

There are so many needs in our older community. Northern Ireland has reported an increase in suicide between the ages of 59 and 64 year. Each year our population is getting older so our programs are very important in keeping people engaged. The partnership we have with The Ireland Funds is so important. Without the support of our funding partners we simply could not deliver the services we do.

— Liz Lee, Chair of Age Concern Causeway.

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From dementia support groups to lunch clubs, The Ireland Funds is helping Age Concern Causeway deliver an array of key services to older people in the Causeway and Glens area of Northern Ireland.

For over 40 years, Age Concern Causeway has been improving the quality of life and combating the social isolation of older people in Northern Ireland. As the population continues to age, Age Concern Causeway’s cross-community services are increasingly important to the local area which has a higher percentage of age 55+ residents than other areas.

Brenda Burnside’s husband Philip was diagnosed in 2017 with cortical basal degeneration. “The Dementia Support Group has been a lifeline for Philip and me,” says Brenda. “It provides a wonderful service not only for people who are suffering from dementia but for their families as well. Without the support of this group I am quite sure that Philip’s deterioration in his disease would have been much faster and this is his doctor’s opinion as well. These years are now about making memories and helping Philip make the journey through his illness in the best way possible.”

Grants from The Ireland Funds are providing these services to improve the quality of life for older people in and around the Causeway Coast area of Northern Ireland.

All activities encourage cross-community interaction.

  • Safe and supervised transport to support groups for vulnerable older people with dementia. This supported an average of 8 people per session for 88 sessions. Without this transport, the majority of members who live in rural and isolated areas would not have been able to attend.
  • Reading Room sessions for people with dementia. Families and carers reported that the 24 members returned in calm and relaxed state from 6 sessions of this therapeutic program designed to stimulate memory.
  • A Lunch Club providing warm, healthy meals for 20 members over the course of 10 weeks. Members within an area of high-deprivation enjoyed meals together while also learning about additional Age Concern activities and services.
  • Line Dancing classes for 30 older people  who attended 2 classes a week for 21 weeks.  Led by an instructor, participants stayed active and connected which addressed social isolation for many.
  • Provision of the “Mind Matters” program for 80 people  in the local community. With a focus on mental health and emotional well-being, the program offers resources to address stress and depression.