PICTURES: Age Friendly Roscrea's very successful Business Recognition initative

Pictured above are Board Members of Age Friendly Roscrea: Back - Joan Murray, Edel Carey, Marie Ahearne, Helen Walshe, Anne Keevey, Mart Buckley, Mary McGrath and Carmel Ormond, Front -Rosemary Doyle, John Lonergan and Mary MacMahon. Photo: PJ Wright

AGE FRIENDLY Roscrea held a very well attended and informative business focused initative last week which was attended by former Governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan.

Congratulations to the businesses and organisations who completed the Roscrea Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme.

Last Wednesday, John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy and recently appointed Tipperary Age Friendly Ambassador came to the Courthouse on Gaol Road to present their Charters.

The Business Recognition is an initiative of Age Friendly Ireland in their mission to help create an inclusive, equitable society in which older people can live full, active valued and healthy lives. Run nationally, the programme is supported by Chambers Ireland and Local Authorities.

Mary MacMahon, Edel Foyle (AIB), John Lonergan, Danny Kelly (AIB) and Anne Keevey. Photo: PJ Wright

The four steps of the programme are:

Plan: identify a member of staff to act as champion for age friendliness and older customers.

Act: The Champion participates in a two-hour Age Friendly Workshop.

Consult: Ask your older customers what they like and what could be improved.

Implement: Develop and implement three actions.

Pictured above are Sherly Sheil (Health Vision), Marion Hayes (Golf Club), John Lonergan, Beata Dziobek (Lady Barber), Seamus Delaney (Roscrea Leisure Centre) and pictured below are Mary MacMahon (AFR) Tommy Greed (Gantly Way), John Lonergan, Kay Gaynor (Roscrea Gardaí) and Jackie Maher (St Cronan's). Photos: PJ Wright

The actions can be cost neutral or low cost and very often it is the small practical things that make the big difference. Examples of some of the actions are: Age Friendly Parking, Age Friendly Seating. reading glasses readily available, adjusted menus, introduction of a code of Conduct for Tradesmen (promoted and supported by local hardware businesses), improved signage, improved lighting and additional age friendly dementia training undertaken by staff who meet the public.

The businesses and organisations accredited were: St Cronan's Care Association; Roscrea Wheelchair Association; Roscrea Golf Club; Roscrea GAA; Roscrea Tennis Club; Patterson’s Hardware; Doherty’s Hardware; Douglas’ Hardware; Centenary DIY; Super Valu Roscrea; Roscrea Shopping Centre; O’Donnell and Hobbs; Healthy Vision; Maloneys on Main St; Maddens Pharmacy; Roscrea Centre Pharmacy; Redmonds Photography; Roscrea Country Market; Roscrea Garda Station; St. Cronan’s RC ; St. Cronan’s CoI; Oasis Christian Fellowship; The Lady Barber; Gantley Way Restaurant; Rackett Hall Hotel; DK Ryan Sols; Roscrea Library; Roscrea Credit Union; Allied Irish Bank; Sherry Fitzgerald Fogarty; Sarah O'Sullivan and Milltown Garden Centre.

Pictured above are Colin Williams ( Patterson's Hardware), Aoife Redmond (Redmond's Photography), John Lonergan, Gloria Keeshan (Super Valu), Niamh O'Donnell (O'Donnell Hobbs) and pictured below are Deirdre Ryan (Deirdre K Ryan & Co), Elizabeth Walkins (Country Market), Seamus Doherty, (Doherty Hardware), John Lonergan, Michael Ryan (Centenary DIY), Edel Foyle (AIB) and Ger Breton (Douglas Hardware). Photos: PJ Wright

Age Friendly Roscrea thanks all the participants for their interest and contribution. We especially wish to thank Age Friendly Ireland and Orlaith Carmody who provided training, Pierce Finn, Maddens who sponsored reading glasses that we distributed. John Lonergan, Age Friendly Tipperary Ambassador, Fiona Crotty, Age Friendly Tipperary Programme Manager, who provides ongoing, invaluable support, the Courthouse Team Helen Walshe, Magdalena Machowicz-Swiderska, Breda Collins, Alex Korol and lead by Mary MacMahon, Age Friendly Roscrea Project Coordinator.

For the businesses who were not in a position to participate or complete the programme this time, there will be further opportunity to do so.

Please let us know of your interest and we will facilitate. Ring (0505) 22550 or ask any member of AFR.