Crumlin Village AGE FRIENDLY TOWN 2014 REPORT Collaborative Planning in Action 1 “ An Age Friendly Town is a town where the community understands and responds to the needs of older people. ” Age Friendly Ireland 2 Contents Executive Summary .....................5 Introduction ................................8 National Age Friendly Cities & Counties Programme .................................... 8 Objective, Scope and Structure.................................................................. 9 Strategic Plan Developed With Older People, Not For Them....................... 11 Age Friendly Town: Vision, Aims & Outcomes ...................................11 Vision & Aims ......................................................................................... 11 National Age Friendly Outcomes .............................................................. 12 Organisational structure .......................................................................... 13 Research & Geographical Mapping ...................................................14 Town Profile ........................................................................................... 14 Mapping Hard & Soft Assets .................................................................... 17 Demographic Profile ............................................................................... 20 Consultation ..............................24 Consultation Methodology in Developing the ............................................ 24 On Street Consultation ............................................................................ 25 Walkability Audit ..................................................................................... 26 Stakeholder Interviews ........................................................................... 27 Focus Groups ......................................................................................... 29 3 Action & Implementation Plan ..31 4 Executive Summary Crumlin Village has the benefits of a village setting in the heart of urban Dublin. As a result of this strategic location Crumlin has developed a wonderful community spirit with many local voluntary organisations and community meeting places. Crumlin Village is an urban village with a population of 14660 persons. The percentage of older persons over 80 is 4.6%, while there has been an increase of 14.4 % of persons over 55 between the 2006 and 2011 census. Alarmingly 27% of the population of Crumlin is over 55 years old with is higher than the national average of 23.4%. Recent population predications from the CSO predict that the average rate of increase for older people will be 1.6% annually which could lead to an above average percentage of persons over 55 in 2046. However it is the projected growth of persons over 80, this is projected to rise from 128,000 to 470,000 persons nationally, an increase of 360%. If we consider that Crumlin has an above average number of older persons over 55, this potential population growth will have a huge impact on the quality of the built environment, housing and social inclusion issues in the coming years. The core village area centres on St. Agnes road, with the local shops and church and the boundaries of Crumlin blend seamlessly into neighbouring similar urban areas such as Walkinstown, Drimnagh and Kimmage. It is the distinct community soul that separates Crumlin from its neighbours and gives Crumlin its sense of place and identity. Crumlin is a largely residential built up area with a general housing stock dating from the middle of the 20th century. The central core area of Crumlin houses between 20-30% of the older person population with the 80+ persons occupying the south west, and the 65-80 year olds more centrally located. This concentration of older persons is an opportunity to target specific spatial areas to realise short term actions. The public consultations were an integral part of the collaboration process in Crumlin and were well attended by older persons, so much so that the venues were always packed and full of chat and ideas. A number of varying public consultations were conducted in Crumlin which included in total over 100 older people. The quality of information gleaned from older people was extremely important in forming the basis of this report. Formal round table consultations to less formal walkability audits were used and the research gathered was used to generate an accurate social profile of Crumlin Village today. The findings of the various consultations such as the walkability audits were used as baseline research to profile the town. The more informal consultations allowed the older persons distinct voice to be recorded which also helped in determining the issues that affect older people in Crumlin. The older person’s voice in Crumlin is similar to other towns and villages in Ireland in relation to the built environment issues – such as seats, roads, bins and paths and it is clear that an improvement in these issues will result in an enhanced quality of life 5 for older people. For example a consistent recurring theme throughout the consultations referred to the lack of public seating in Crumlin. The re-installation of age friendly seating in appropriate locations has been a major success of the programme to date and hopefully will be the catalyst for future installations of public seating in Crumlin which will make the village more walkable and contribute to an active and healthy lifestyle for older people. Some innovative ideas such as dedicated age friendly parking areas could be investigated along with other actions such as getting the physical bus shelters back in place and finding out why the 150 bus route can’t pass by the Old County Health Care Centre. The issue of dog fouling, with the re-introduction of bins in the park and the distribution of dog litter bags added to a positive poster campaign indicating the dangers of dog fouling will have an impact on the lives of older persons. The future installation of Tone Zone equipment and a possible location in Bunting Park is a huge positive impact on age friendliness and without doubt the reintroduction of age friendly seats in the village has been a massive positive element of this plan. However access to public buildings, more so around the approach to the buildings rather than inside the actual building itself is a frustrating issue for older people in Crumlin. The softer issues were also high on the priority list for older people. Feeling safe out and about in the village, easy access to local information, more collaboration from stakeholders on transport issues and built environment issues is needed. The obvious asset of the bank to older people has changed in recent times due to the introduction of electronic banking and a “faceless” banking scenario exists now in the AIB. This is not working well for older people and has a really debilitating impact on their lives. Some older people expressed a desire to avoid the bank as much as possible which is a shame considering the location of the bank and the obvious benefits of older people getting out and about in the village. It is hoped that this is not setting a trend for the future and one of the actions in this plan is to try and form a relationship with the bank to express the opinions of the older person and to see if an accommodation can be made. Implementation is now paramount in Crumlin and a steering committee should be in place to help deliver the plan. It is important that the steering committee consists of stakeholders who have a keen interest in implementing the plan. The minimum impact this plan should have is to create an awareness of older person’s issues, a record of their voice and what issues effect their lives. Any implementation of the actions, such as the recent seats, would greatly improve the quality of older person’s lives in the village. 6 The steering committee have some really valuable work to proceed with next year towards making Crumlin Village age friendly but with plenty of public consultation and collaboration, Crumlin Village has the capacity to develop into an extremely well deserved age friendly village. Crumlin – the need to be an ‘Age Friendly Town’ 7 Introduction This Age Friendly strategy for Crumlin was prepared by Age Friendly Ireland (a nonprofit organisation) on behalf of the older people in Crumlin, as part of the Age Friendly Towns Initiative in the Dublin Region. It is important that this strategic plan accurately identifies the positives and areas for improvement in Crumlin. It is hoped that through the Age Friendly Towns initiative these challenges can be effectively acted upon by the relevant stakeholders, agencies and organisations. The following section will explain the context of developing an Age Friendly strategy in Crumlin and states the wider Age Friendly Cities and Counties National Programme; the overall aim and objectives of the strategy; identifies the key stakeholders involved in the process and why the implementation of an Age Friendly Strategy is important for older people living in Crumlin. National Age Friendly Cities & Counties Programme The Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme (AFCCP) is an in initiative of the Age Friendly Ireland and is aligned to the World Health Organisations (WHO) Age Friendly Cities Programme which is operational in 33 towns and cities across the world. The programme was established in response to the ageing population of Ireland and a realisation that we need to start planning now for this unprecedented demographic shift. Within Ireland, the programme has already been adopted by 18 counties, with the overall aim to make every county in Ireland ‘Age Friendly’. Dublin City Council signed the Dublin Declaration on Age Friendly Cities and Communities, a World Health Organisation initiative that commits signatories to becoming more age friendly. Dublin City then signed up to begin the process to become an Age Friendly County in 2013 when the County Manager committed to the process. The programme is 8 managed by an Age Friendly Alliance group and is made up of the key decision makers in the county including the CEOs of local partnership companies, the HSE, the Chief Superintendent of the Gardaí and the Mayor. Essentially, the AFCC programme engages with organisations who are currently working with the community and looks to explore how they can better use current resources to respond to the real issues for older people. To date, many initiatives have been established under the programme which has made a real difference to lives of older people in these communities. The Age Friendly Towns (AFT) initiative falls under the AFCCP and is currently being run for the second year in eight different towns across Ireland, the AFT initiative is collaboration between Age Friendly Ireland and participating Local Authorities. Objective, Scope and Structure This document outlines an innovative and strategic approach to try and improve the lives of all people in Crumlin by addressing the needs of one of the most vulnerable groups in society, older people. The approach is built on the premise that “If you design for the young you exclude the old, but if you design for the old you include everyone.” G. Miller (2007) What drives quality of life for seniors? The Globe and Mail The overarching aim of the process is to make Crumlin an ‘Age Friendly Town’, with all the key agencies and organisations working together to promote and maintain the best possible quality of life and health of older people and to make Crumlin itself a great place to grow old in. 9 Illustrates the streetscape along St Agnes Road, Crumlin Focus Group, Golden Year, WAFA Hall, Crumlin Village 10 Strategic Plan Developed With Older People, Not For Them A key attribute of this Age Friendly strategy is that older people were central to devising the recommended actions. Through their responses and contributions gained during the consultation process, participants raised various issues and solutions which will be vital to developing the plan further and setting the priority actions that will be implemented by the community and other relevant stakeholders. This strategy was established from earlier consultations with older people and key organisations working with them. It presents a vision of the new partnership and is intended as a clear statement of aims and approaches, and an outline of practical and cost effective ways to achieve them. Age Friendly Town: Vision, Aims & Outcomes Vision & Aims The Age Friendly Towns initiative is part of the wider national Age Friendly Cities and Counties Programme (AFCCP), which is currently operational in 18 Local Authorities Dublin City Council and is being rolled out nationally. The programme’s Vision is ‘to make every county in Ireland a great place in which to grow old’. The aims of the Age Friendly Towns Strategy are to: Improve the quality of life of older people living in the area, particularly the ‘older’ old and the more isolated and lonely. 11 Engage older adults in shaping and enhancing their communities for the benefit of everyone. Benefit from a multi-stakeholder planning approach, informed and supported by older adults. Learn ‘what works’ in this context and use the findings to inform better approaches to planning for older adults. National Age Friendly Outcomes Nine outcomes have been identified as being important components to creating an Age Friendly Space. Age friendly refers to a place where all of us as we age can:1. Lead healthier & active lives for longer 2. Stay living in our own homes and communities 3. Get to where we need to go, when we need to 4. Be enabled by the built and social environment 5. Feel and be safe at home and out and about 6. Have the information we need to live full lives 7. Be truly valued and respected 8. Participate in social, economic and public life 9. Continue to learn, develop and work 12 Illustrates the streetscape along St Agnes Road, Crumlin Organisational structure The Dublin Age Friendly County Strategy was launched in 2013. The Strategy, and the very specific plans it contains, was developed by the Age Friendly County Alliance, a newly-established partnership led by Dublin City County Council and chaired by the County Manager. The members of the Alliance are: Tony Flynn, Chair and South Central Area Manager, Dublin City Council Superintendent Ritchie Millea, An Garda Siochana Declan McGonigle, Director National College Art and Design Ciaran Reid, CEO, Ballyfermot Area Partnership Alison King, Social Inclusion Officer, Dublin City Council Mo Flynn, CEO, Harold’s Cross Hospice Imelda Dooley, Health Service Executive Pat Teahan, Local Area Co-Ordinator, Dublin City Council Miriam Flynn, Community Development Officer, of Dublin City Council Crumlin Area Office was entrusted with the role of coordinating the AFCC in the Crumlin Area. 13 Research & Geographical Mapping Town Profile A desktop study of the area was commenced in May 2014 in order to compile a profile of Crumlin Village. Official sources such as the Central Statistics Office (CSO) website, My Plan, Pobal, AIRO and Dublin City Council’s website were consulted. Information was also provided by Dublin City Council’s Crumlin Area Office, Planning and Community Departments and Mapping and Surveying Department. Other publically available sources such as the National Transport Association (NTA) and Dublin Bus websites were also used to gather what transport links exist in Crumlin Village. 14 Aerial view detailing Crumlin Village The Village is located c 6.5 km south west of Dublin City Centre and 4km east of exit 9 on the M50 motorway, which encircles Dublin city. The project is focused around Crumlin Village which includes the four electoral districts of Crumlin D; Kimmage A, B & E and Wakinstown C. Crumlin is classified in the Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017 as one of eight Key District Centres (KDCs). The KDCs serve the outer city and are designed to provide a comprehensive range of commercial and community services, to the surrounding population and are reflective of the regional retail hierarchy. 15 OS Map of Crumlin Village (Study Area) The study area for the purpose of this project is mainly focused around the main thoroughfare of Crumlin St Agnes Road. The area is defined to the south east by the intersection of Bunting Road and Cromwellsfort Road which incorporates Walkinstown Library and Crumlin village’s main street St Agnes Road which is demarcated by the Roman Catholic St Agnes Church to the East end and the Church of Ireland St. Mary’s Church to the west end. The study area extends northwest along Crumlin Road and includes Pearse Park, Old County Road. The northeast boundary is defined by Sundrive Road, which stretches in a southerly direction and meets Stannaway Road, Cashel Road and Ravensdale Park, which marks the eastern boundary of the study area and finally links up with Kimmage Road Lower and then on to Kimmage Road West, and eventually backs to Cromwellsfort. 16 Mapping Hard & Soft Assets The village has a relatively compact spine stretching between the two churches at the East and West end of St. Agnes Road and provides significant local services and amenities, including Pearse park, AIB/Credit Union, Garda station, Dublin City Council Area Office, An Post and restaurants and pubs. It is accessible by both road and bus. The village is an established urban centre with a vibrant residential community. The appeal of Crumlin Village, its age profile and wide range of amenities and services support its significant potential to be a successful Age Friendly Town. The Village is served by the No. 150/123/18/83/17/77/27/151/122 bus services, which services both city centre locations and cross radial routes to Tallaght and Sandymount. However, the No. 150 bus was removed from Crumlin Road and rerouted to Kildare Road, which has caused considerable issues for the local older residents. This has resulted in bus users having to cross Crumlin Road a major arterial route into the city centre to access the Star Bingo hall and the Village of Crumlin itself. View of St Agnes Road from Dublin City Council’s, Crumlin Area Office 17 There is ample off-street car parking in the Village with parking for up to 162 cars provided free of charge in the Church’s car park. On-street parking is provided along the St. Agnes Road in the Village where ‘Pay and Display’ system is in operation. The main services in the Village are clustered along St. Agnes Road, Old County Road and Sundrive Road. The primary health centre is located on Armagh Road and a main health centre on Old County Road with Crumlin Children’s Hospital located on Crumlin Road. A number of chemists, GPs and dental practices are also located within the study area. There are two main food stores located along St. Agnes Road namely Tesco Express and Centra, the Post Office is located in Spar shop. The Parish Centre is located on the grounds of St. Agnes Church, which is a great resource for the village and local communities, with meeting rooms and a drop in café after church and on weekdays. A day care centre, which supplies meals to local residents, is situated in Lorcan O’Toole Centre. Walkinstown Library is located south of the St Agnes road within the study area. Crumlin is home to a number of sporting organisations and clubs including Crumlin United, Crumlin Boxing Club and Swimming Pool located in Pearse Park, Crumlin GAA and Pitch and Putt situated in Lorcan O’Toole Park, Crumlin Bowls located in St. Mary’s Park and Walkinstown Athletic and a track and field park in Bunting Green. Please see map below. 18 19 Demographic Profile Crumlin Village has a population of c.14,660 at the last census in 2011 consisting of 47.7% males and 52.3% females. This represents a decrease of 4% since the last census results in 2006. 4.6% of the Crumlin population is aged 80+ years. This is considerably higher than the national average increase for the cohort; nationally, the over 65 cohort grew by 14.4% between 2006 and 2011. However, 27% of the Crumlin population are aged 55 or over (3,958 persons), which is similar to the national figure (23.6%). A total of 7.4% persons aged over 65 had a disability in 2011 Census. A total of 4.1% of the studies population provided regular unpaid personal help to a friend or family member with a long-term illness, health problem or disability. 1 Crumlin’s Population with a Disability In line with national figures, the ratio of males to females is approximately 50:50 in all cohorts with a total of 6,996 males and 7,664 females. Interestingly, as shown in Central Statistics Office (2011) Census 2011 – Area Profiles. Website source; http://census.cso.ie/areaprofiles/areaprofile.aspx?Geog_Type=ST&Geog_Code=35011 1 20 the population pyramid above, this ratio changes to 55:45 in favour of females in the over 65 cohort with 1922 males and 2822 females. The population pyramid shows at a glance how the population is structured in terms of males and females and the proportions of younger and older people and at each age in between. Crumlin’s Population Pyramid The very high national birth rate in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which reached a peak in 1980 with 74,064 births (today’s 31 and 32 year olds), is a strong distinguishing feature of the graph, as is the sharp fall in births over the subsequent 15 year period reaching a low point in 1994 (today’s 17 and 18 year olds). The recent recovery in births, particularly in the last four years, is also evident. The pyramid shape from the 30 and over age groups reflect the effects of mortality as the population grows older. The maps below, extracted from CSO data, show the percentage concentration of population within the study area. This map is of particular importance as it clearly illustrates where the most vulnerable older people are in our society and where best to focus services and assistance. 21 Percentage of Population within the Crumlin Area 22 Breakdown of Population – Crumlin – Dublin City Council - State Location State Dublin County Dublin City Council Crumlin Area Total Population 2011 4,588,252 1,273,069 Population aged 5585+ 998,701 257887 Population Aged 5585+ (%) 22 20 527,612 14660 113,671 3958 22 27 Table 1 above shows the breakdown of the population for Crumlin Village compared to Dublin City Council and the State. 23 Consultation Consultation Methodology in Developing the Crumlin Age Friendly Strategy The basis for developing this plan came from consultation with older people in Crumlin and key service providers who assist older people. The recommendations were established using four primary methods of consultation which include:1. 2. 3. 4. On Street Consultation Walkability Audit on the Physical Streetscape Interviews with Key Stakeholders Consultation with Older Representatives The following will explain the process under the consultation methods outlined above and summarise the findings to date:- Shows the provision of good paving in Crumlin, St Agnes Road 24 On Street Consultation As part of the consultation process for the Age Friendly Town initiative on-street survey was administered on St. Agnes Road outside in Crumlin Village on the 14th May 2014 from 9.30am to 2pm. Two planners administered the survey on the day. After discussion community with officers a local position outside Tesco Express was chosen, as this location would where target the highest footfall. An outdoor office area was set up with the AFI banner with two table and chairs this provided a good visual effect and drew attention to the survey. The survey was not a random sample of the population of over 55s in the Crumlin Area but it was used to gather a representation from each of the age groups and highlighted some of the major issues affecting the area. The results were used to provide a base line of information for the ongoing evaluation of the success of the Outdoor Office as part of the on-street surveys. St. Agnes Road, Crumlin Age Friendly Town Plan in Crumlin. 25 Walkability Audit A total of 17 older volunteers took part in two separate walkability audits in Crumlin on the 24th June 2014. Age Friendly Ireland is partnered with the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design. This was very beneficial as we could use their indepth knowledge to maximize the results of the walkability. Reviewing the Village Sign as part of the walkability audit in Crumlin A total number of 5 routes were chosen with individual routes varying from 540m to 720m and were identified in advance and plotted on a map (see below). Three routes were identified around St Agnes Road as this was highlighted as an area of highest footfall. Route 1 went from Ashleaf Shopping Centre along St. Agnes Road to the Post Office Sorting Office. Route 2 went from the Post Office Sorting Office along St. Agnes Road to St. Marys Church. Route 3 went from the Sorting Office to Walkinstown Library along Moreran Road. Route 4 followed the length of Old County Road and finally Route 5 went from Clonmacnoise senior citizens complex to Sundrive Road. To access Routes 4/5 Old County Road/Colnmacnoise An Garda Siochana provided a bus. 26 Volunteers were sourced locally with the help of Dublin City Council community workers, Rathmines Pembroke Area Partnership and DMAP. With regard to the walkability audit, the volunteers were briefed on the purpose of undertaking the walkability audit and the importance of identifying the positive and potential areas for improvement in the village. They were also notified about the reasons for undertaking the audit. Following the presentation the volunteers were split into three groups and were given c. 1.5 hours to complete their assigned routes and return to the community centre. On their return an open discussion took place to gather initial responses and surveys were completed, followed by tea and sandwiches. The results are incorporated into the Action and Implementation Plan in the following chapters of this report. Highlighting poor paving as part of the walkability audit in Crumlin Stakeholder Interviews From the initial research undertaken to highlight possible members of the Crumlin Steering Committee a number of key local stakeholders were identified for one to one consultations. A total of 8 individual and groups were approached representing 27 the relevant agencies. These included Community and social workers from Dublin City Council; Rathmines Pembroke Area Partnership; Dublin 12 Disability Mainstream Access Project (DMAP), St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), An Garda Siochana, Lorcan O’Toole Day Care Centre and Local Businesses. Interviews were untaken in an informal manner, however all interviews followed the same line of enquiry. Before initiating the interview a brief introduction and overview of the Age Friendly Towns initiative was given to the stakeholders. An outline was given of the key organisations that AFI would be collaborating with in the Crumlin area. The fourstage process was explained in relation to the Crumlin area; Stage 1 Set-up; Stage 2 Audit and Consult; Stage 3 Plan; Stage 4 Implement and Review. Stakeholder interview in Lorcan O’Toole Day Care Centre, Crumlin The nine national outcomes of the Age Friendly Town initiative were outlined and the stakeholders identified the most important priority outcomes that were discussed in greater details. Stakeholders were also asked the following questions: Do you think Crumlin is a good place in which to grow old in? What are the main issues facing older people in Crumlin on a daily basis that you have experienced through your professional/personal life? 28 What improvements would you make that would have the greatest effect on the daily lives of older people in Crumlin? Specific questions were asked in relation to the interviewee’s area of expertise. All issues raised with regards to the stakeholder interviews have been represented within the Action and Implementation in the following contained within this report. Focus Groups Consultations took place with a number of focus groups across the Crumlin area over the first week of July 2014. A number of groups were approached these included; Crumlin/Walkinstown Golden Years; Crumlin Active Retirement Group; Lorcan O’Toole Day Care Centre and Dublin 12 Disability Mainstream Access Project (DMAP). In total 38 people were consulted during the focus group interview process. Before imitating the focus groups a brief introduction and overview of the Age Friendly Towns initiative was given to the stakeholders. An outline was given of the key organisations that AFI would be collaborating with in the Crumlin area. The fourstage process was explained in relation to the Crumlin area; Stage 1 Set-up; Stage 2 Audit and Consult; Stage 3 Plan; Stage 4 Implement and Review. Focus Group interview in WSAF Hall, Crumlin 29 Larger groups were divided into groups of no bigger than 10 and a facilitator appointed to each group to take notes of issues arising. During all focus group a standard recording sheet was used to ensure standardisation of all interviews. The name of the group; venue; date; number in group; record of any disability in the group; number of males and female and the number in each age grouping was recorded. The focus group covered all the nine national outcomes of the Age Friendly Town initiative and the focus groups discussed all priority issues under each heading. The information from the focus groups are incorporated into the Action and Implementation Plan in the following chapters of this report. One of the new public seats in Crumlin Village 30 Action & Implementation Plan The following sets out a number of recommendations, which came directly from on street surveys, consultation with older people stakeholders and from carrying out the walkability audits. The information captured highlights both the priority issues raised by individuals as well as recommendations to address these concerns. From an implementation perspective, the report has divided the recommendations into short and long term actions. For the purpose of this programme, short term is defined as those projects that we feel can begin to be implemented over the lifetime of the Age Friendly Towns programme, i.e. until the end of 2014. Those deemed as long term projects will be adopted and managed as part of the broader Age Friendly County programme which will enter implementation phase in 2015. During the consultation process, the nine established outcomes were reduced to four outcomes as selected by the stakeholders in Crumlin. 31 1 Outdoor spaces & Buildings Goal at City Level Ensure that the design, maintenance and redevelopment of outdoor spaces and buildings are in line with current best practice in accessibility for older people Your Voice “There is terrible seating in the Crumlin Area” “Many of the routes are blocked in Crumlin as a result of cars parked on pavements, bins left out all day or hedges overgrowing the path” “Footpaths are in bad repair all over Crumlin, DIY Dishing is a nightmare for me when I am in my chair” “Dog foul is seriously bad, I get it on my hand and then bring it into my house” Overview This section gives an overview of the key issues and challenges that emerged under the outdoor spaces and buildings (WHO) theme as part of the various consultations undertaken in Crumlin Village. The feedback from the public consultations in relation to outdoor spaces and buildings were one of the most discussed themes. Crumlin Village has an obvious community spirit and the built environment issues raised at consultation stage effect not just older persons, but all persons. Over the years seating and bicycle stands have been removed from the village, mostly because of anti-social behaviour issues, and have never been replaced. It was clear that there was a real need for public seating in the village core area. During the process of this plan 2 seats were installed in strategic locations and have been an overwhelming 32 success, such a success in fact that there is now a real enthusiasm to install more seats. The design of the seats are age friendly and are located in an area with a nice micro-climate. After 3 months the seats have not been victim to vandalism or antisocial behaviour, which is very promising. Part of the consultation process allowed participants to place pins in maps to show where the priority for seating is required. The results of this consultation process could be used when discussion on locations for seating arises. Further innovative ideas such as rapid rest areas and leaning posts were also discussed at consultation stage, which might be a little aspirational at this stage but is a direction that the older persons wish to go in the future. Other issues raised at consultation stage was the reintroduction of dog fouling bags, a major problem in Crumlin Village, a potential need for an additional pedestrian crossing near the Rockmeade older persons home, and a review of disabled parking spaces with a view to investigating the needs for older persons parking spaces. These innovative ideas need to be piloted at first to fully understand the impact and need of the ideas but the consultation to date has clearly shown a potential for action. Crumlin is well served by local voluntary groups such as but not limited to LinkAge and DMAP, two excellent working groups, and these groups may be central to improving the built environment for older persons. Existing problems such as overgrowing hedges, DIY footpath dishing , visual clutter and insensitive parking of vehicles all rate high on the priority lists of issues effecting older persons and it is intended to produce a publication to help highlight these issues to residents and business owners. It is hoped that some recognition system could be put in place to reward and recognise changes in attitude and behaviour on these issues that affect older persons and this publication would be beneficial in attaining this change in mind-set. 33 Issue Action Timeline Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) To re-introduce public seating in Install age friendly style seats in 2014 & 2015 Crumlin Village appropriate locations Lead Organisations DCC Reintroduce dog fouling bins Install dog dirt bags in appropriate 2015 and distribute dog litter bags in locations the village, create a positive poster campaign to promote awareness of the health issues associated with dog fouling DCC Design and distribute an This document could be delivered to 2015 information booklet to include the residents of Crumlin the village develop a recognition system. relaying the impact of issues raised during the consultation process such as insensitive parking, overgrowing hedges etc. Steering Committee Status Complete 34 Issue Action Timeline Long-Term (3-5 Years) Review the disabled parking The consultation process showed a 2015/2017 spaces requirement in Crumlin need for older person’s parking spaces, and the location of these spaces an initiate worth considering by the incoming steering committee. An additional pedestrian crossing was Investigate the possibility of an a recurring theme in the public 2015/2017 additional pedestrian crossing in consultation process and an area the village outside the Rockmeade Older Persons Housing area has been identified as a possible location for a new pedestrian crossing Lead Organisations Status Age Friendly Steering Committee Steering Committee, DCC. 35 2 Transportation Goal at City Level Ensure that public transport in Dublin City is appropriate for older people Your Voice “There is no problem with Bus Shelters as there are no bus shelters” “Cars parking on footpaths means I have to go out on a busy road to get by, this is not safe” “I miss the 150 route to the Old County Health Centre – why was it re-routed?” “Dog foul is seriously bad, I get it on my hand and then bring it into my house” “Able bodied people abuse the use of disabled parking spaces” 36 Overview Being so close to Dublin City has many benefits to residents of Crumlin, especially older residents. The city centre holds an attraction to older people in Crumlin for a variety of reasons ranging from retail to social. However getting into the city can be hard for many older people and Crumlin’s hard assets in terms of transport is limited. There is only one bus shelter in Crumlin- the rest being removed due to vandalism and anti-social behaviour. The timing trip’s to the city centre has been very accurate in inclement weather. Due to the unexpected success of the new seas, perhaps it is time to re-install the shelters. Insensitive parking by people in places causes much distress to older people in the village. An action for an awareness project in the form of a publication would benefit this issue. A review of disabled spaces and maybe a pilot project into the age friendly parking concept would also impact positively on older people’s lives. The local community Gardaí will need to be a major stakeholder to realise this objective. Local bus routes, the 150 in particular, used to pass and stop outside the Old County Health Centre. This route was changed with very little notice given to the public and no collaboration with locals who were the main users of this route. The re-routing of the 150 bus route upset many older persons and it was requested numerous times at consultation stages to investigate the possibility of re-routing the 150 route. Further issues, more long term and of a higher order included the discussion of having a branch line from the LUAS or even a localised bus to the nearest LUAS in Drimnagh. Whilst obviously a very aspirational action, when the population density of Crumlin is examined coupled with the location of the Children’s hospital, the idea does not seem so farfetched and is worthy of some investigation or feasibility study. 37 Issue Action Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) To pilot project an Age Friendly Local authority and parking wardens to work together to Parking Area in the village. pilot an age friendly parking area to determine if such an innovation would be welcome as a long term solution to accessibility and social inclusion in the village. Re-install the bus shelters Medium-Term (2-3 Years) Engage in discussions with Dublin Bus to understand the implications of a possible ReRoute the 150 bus Timeline 2015 Lead Organisations Steering Committee, DCC, Gardaí. Collaborate with the transport authority in relation to the possibility of the re-installation of more bus shelters 2015 Steering Committee, DCC, Dublin Bus The reasoning behind the new route of the 150 bus 2015/2016 needs to be investigated and a nominated group to investigate the possibility of a return to the original route. Steering Committee, Dublin Bus. 38 3 Own Homes & Communities Goal at City Level Ensure that facilities, services and supports are available to assist older people to remain living in their communities. Your Voice “I want to stay living in my home as long as possible” “I had no support in adapting my home” “I have home help but 30mins is not enough, I depend on my family for help” Overview Older people in Crumlin Village want to stay living in their own homes for as long as they can. Throughout the project it was apparent that support mechanisms can be put in place to allow this to happen, if a cross functional multi collaborational process is acknowledged. Many of the issues raised by older persons are top down actions closely aligned to the Dublin City Strategy. Hence the actions included in this section are more long term actions. 39 Issue Action Timeline Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) Design an information pack for Have a dedicated section of the publication with 2015 older persons specific information for older persons such as important phone numbers, home help contacts etc. Lead Organisations Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC Medium-Term (2-3 Years) Work with stakeholders to ensure that older people in need of home help hours get the hours they need Identify the persons that require the additional hours 2016/2017 as a priority and liaise with public representatives or other relevant stakeholders in attempting to achieve the action Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC Long-Term (3-5 Years) Feasibility and collaboration survey to determine the need for and location of an older persons resource centre Map and compile existing hard and soft assets for older 2015/2018 persons and undertake a desk top feasibility study and public collaboration survey on the requirement of a dedicated older person resource centre Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC 40 4 Be Truly Valued & Respected Goal at City Level To foster opportunities to generate intergenerational meetings, further education and continued learning, more “community get together” and reduce the possibility of loneliness and isolation in the home for older persons Your Voice “We have a responsibility to look after the most vulnerable in the society; everyone is part of the same community” “Service Companies are terrible to deal with” “Sometimes I feel younger people don’t see me” Overview The issue of intergenerational meetings was a recurring theme raised at public consultation stage and also within discussions with older persons. The overall opinion of older persons was that few if any opportunities exist for older persons to meet and chat with younger persons. Service companies, generally trying to convince an older person to use their services were also an issue for older persons, especially cold callers and outside normal hour’s callers which unsettles older people in their homes. 41 Issue Action Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) To survey younger people for the interest to Develop a working relationship support intergenerational meetings representatives of the local schools Service Companies and the Older Person Timeline with 2015 To develop a service company charter around dealings between the service 2015 companies and older persons Medium-Term (2-3 Years) To undertake a pilot programme with the local Determine the level of interest from both 2015/2016 schools to investigate the opportunities for parties and the support for an intergenerational meetings intergenerational project Lead Organisations Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC Steering Committee and schools 42 5 Social, Economic & Public Life Goal at City Level Create more and better opportunities for older people to participate in the social, economic and political life of the city Your Voice “I can’t participate in public life due to poor access, I can’t access any parks, Gardaí Station, many public buildings and Church” Overview The walkability audits conducted in Crumlin Village had one major recurring issue – accessibility. The work of DMAP is well known in the area and it was apparent that DMAP will be a major stakeholder in improving the accessibility of the village for everyone which will include older people. An awareness campaign needs to be projected, highlighting the issues in Crumlin Village and the actions required to improve accessibility. As a result of the walkability audits, one definite action, if implemented will greatly improve awareness of the specific issues and will lead to an improvement in accessibility in Crumlin Village. 43 Issue Action Timeline Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) Improve accessibility to public Using the baseline of the walkability audits, conduct further 2015 buildings in Crumlin Village consultation and surveys to prioritise buildings in need of improvements. Medium-Term (2-3 Years) Monitor progress of Continue to update walkability audits and liaise with 2016 improvement works to public stakeholders such as DCC. buildings. Lead Organisations Steering Committee and stakeholders Steering Committee and Community Welfare Department 44 6 Information to Lead Full Lives Goal at City Level Provide user friendly, reliable and coordinated information in a way which suits the needs of older people with a focus on “no wrong door” interactions Your Voice Older people are being forced to live a certain way, you don’t know what you need until you need it” “Service companies are terrible, I hate dealing with them” Overview Again the service companies is a recurring theme in the issues affecting older persons, however it is the feeling of frustration expressed by older persons in their need for information at times least expected, is a need that can be achieved by the steering committee. 45 Issue Action Timeline Service Companies and the To develop a service company charter around dealings 2015 Older Person between the service companies and older persons Lead Organisations Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC 46 7 Learn, Develop & Work Goal at City Level Develop and support opportunities for older people to access formal and informal learning and to continue to work in a paid or voluntary capacity if they so wish Your Voice “We are the forgotten generation in terms of technology.” Overview Generally the older persons who contributed to the consultation process expressed opinions on people they knew or friends, who were left behind in terms of technology. Examples such as the AIB becoming a faceless bank with automated tellers, rather than an actual person, is a concern for older people. The feelings of the older persons should be relayed to the bank, which perhaps might have a desirable outcome. 47 Issue Action Timeline Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) To inform AIB of the Representatives from the steering committee to formally write 2015 feelings of their older to representative of AIB and request a meeting to relay the customers feelings of disappointment of older person in relation to the current perceived policy of automated banking facilities Medium-Term (2-3 Years) To continue to monitor To collate information and conduct yearly surveys in relation 2016/2017 and record any similar to technology changes and the impact on older persons in issues with other Crumlin commercial institutions Lead Organisations Steering Committee Steering Committee 48 8 Healthier & Active Lives for Longer Goal at City Level Ensure older people have access to appropriate health services and to agefriendly arts, leisure, sports and recreational services, as well as to the information they need for healthy and active living. Your Voice “We have no dedicated fitness centre” Overview Older people like keeping fit and there are some nice large parks in Crumlin Village. Tone Zone equipment has been purchased and a site identified in Bunting Park and the Tone Zone will be installed in 2015. There are a number of local gyms in the area that should be contacted with a view to determining older persons keep fit classes. 49 Issue Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) Investigate the possibility of another tone zone area, possibly covered, in an area identified by older persons Medium-Term (2-3 Years) Approach all local gyms and health centres in Crumlin Village to encourage age friendliness. Action Timeline Lead Organisations Status Research the impact of the tone zone in 2015 Bunting Park and amend or improve the model for another location. Public collaboration in relation to style and location is a priority. DCC, local sports Equipment partnerships, purchased, to steering committee be installed. Inform and collaborate with local fitness 2016/2017 centres to determine the requirement for an age friendly area in their premises. Encourage the attainment of Age Friendly Business status. Steering Committee & DCC 50 9 Safe at home & Out and About Goal at City Level Ensure that older people feel and are safe in their homes and when out and about in Dublin City Your Voice Even when I am on my own I lock myself in, I make sure all the doors and windows are closed” “I don’t feel safe at night” “There have been a lot of break-ins in Crumlin” “We need more Gardaí on the Street” Overview The Gardaí in Crumlin Village are well respected by the older people in the town. It would appear that the Gardaí have made a real impact on the lives of older persons. The Gardaí are working on extremely tight budgets and timelines and it may not be possible to get more Gardaí on the street however to try and combat this a “Say Hello” campaign would be very beneficial to the older people of Crumlin Village and the main driver of this campaign should be the Gardaí and the business community. The “Say Hello” campaign has been shown to be very active in town in Ireland and the UK, and the campaign has been shown to promote social inclusion, reduce crime and vandalism and improve the quality of lives of older persons. The steering committee should encourage the roll out of this policy. This one action has the potential to greatly change the lives of older persons in Crumlin Village and may also have a beneficial impact collaterally in Crumlin Village. 51 Issue Action Timeline Short-Term (0 - 1 Years) To develop a “Say Hello” campaign Work with local stakeholders and the 2015 in Crumlin Village media to create a “Say Hello” campaign Medium-Term (2-3 Years) To continually stress the requirement for Gardaí on the street and the implication for older persons when funding curtails Garda presence. To continually inform the Gardaí of the 2015/2018 needs of older people to connect visually with on street Gardaí and its importance to older persons quality of life Lead Status Organisations Gardaí, Local Business’s, Steering Committee. HSE, Gardaí and DCC Steering Committee, Gardaí and DCC 52 Next Steps Crumlin Village has a very well developed community spirit and the soul of Crumlin Village has the capacity to greatly impact and improve the lives of older people in the village. An exhaustive action plan could well overwhelm the current hardworking, stretched stakeholders, and as a result some achievable actions have been included in this plan which hopefully can be incorporated into the existing framework structure in place in Crumlin Village. An enthusiastic hardworking steering committee could well help Crumlin Village to be an Age Friendly Village. 53
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