Taoiseach receives early ‘age friendly’ loyalty card

WITH the Government trying to save money, Taoiseach Enda Kenny would do well to pay a visit Ennis where he is now entitled to money off at a variety of businesses.
Transition year pupils of Coláiste Muire presented the Taoiseach with an Age Friendly Loyalty Card during a visit to Leinster House on Wednesday, the day after he turned 61. The card is usually reserved for retired people and pensioners, giving reduced prices in a number of participating locations in Ennis.
However, the pupils made a special exception for the Taoiseach making him an honorary subscriber to the card.
Teacher Finola Howard confirmed, “Yes, the Taoiseach will be entitled to the discounts offered by the card if he chooses to use it.”
The card is part of the New Year New Price initiative, in collaboration with a number of cafes and taxi companies around the town, where a reduced price has been agreed for holders of the card.
The transition years devised the card as part of their Young Social Innovators project on Positive Ageing.
The project has seen the students led by Ms Howard set out to tackle as many aspects of ageism as possible. On Wednesday they travelled to Dublin to meet with Enda Kenny with the aim of discussing the project and gaining the Taoiseach’s support for the cards. Councillor Mary Howard, who was also in attendance, arranged the meeting.
“2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. That, and the fact that County Clare signed the International Declaration for Age Friendly Communities late last year is what inspired Coláiste Múire’s transition year project on Positive Aging. They have done some phenomenal work over the past few months and it is now paying off,” said Finola Howard.
The foundation of their project is based on the areas of age discrimination and abuse, loneliness, lack of social connection and an education in technology. After communicating with the aged community of Ennis, they identified some of the problems affecting them in their day-to-day lives. Other aspects of their project include a proposal to the town council that extra signs should be added to Ennis cautioning motorists to be aware of elderly pedestrians. These signs will make it easier, safer and more pleasant for older pedestrians to walk from their homes to local amenities and services.
They also put forward that the time period available to pedestrians at traffic lights is insufficient and should be lengthened. The students said that, from the results of their research, the timings might be adequate for younger pedestrians however the elderly, especially those with restricted mobility, feel pressurised crossing at traffic lights and at pedestrian crossings.
They have created a power point presentation in relation to promoting positive attitudes and respect amongst young people towards the elderly community. Other initiatives include paired walking, which involves students being paired with an older person from the community to keep them company while walking and to run various errands for them and log on and learn, a six week computer programme.
Coláiste Muire has been involved with YSI over the past six years achieving the overall prize in 2008, placed second in 2004, overall category winners in 2010 and twice projects have been highly recommended.
The definitive moment for the success of the Coláiste’s Positive Ageing project in this competition will be at the YSI Final Showcase in Citywest on May 9.
However, according to student Muireann O’Shea, “Whatever the result at the Showcase Coláiste Muire’s Positive Ageing project is not going to end here. The transition year students will be actively involved in the consultations for Ennis’s Age Friendly Strategy on May 3. Ronan Toomey, National Coordinator for European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, has requested the class to present their project at the showcase for the west on this subject next month.”
On Friday the class will mark the European Day of Solidarity between Generations by inviting an active retirement group to visit the school and relive their school days by attending classes with the students and teachers.
“Ennis, as a potentially Age Friendly town, needs to adapt its structures and services to be accessible to and inclusive of older people with varying needs and capacities. We as a community need to look after our elderly. Crossing the road is a basic function and should not be causing unnecessary stress or injury to any individual, least of all the vulnerable in our community. Our project is all about giving to the community in a simple way. Aging is a natural, inevitable progression. We will all grow old so let’s facilitate our older community to age positively,” Muireann concluded.