Following it’s shortlisting in the communications category, the Live Well Expo recently faced a judging panel for the upcoming Age Friendly recognition and achievement awards.
The Council chamber at Laois County Hall was at capacity as the organisers of the event – Emma O’Connor of Healthy Laois and Tom Curran of Age Friendly Laois – presented the initiative to Age Friendly Ireland judges, Madelaine Quirke and Eileen Hughes.
Various groups and services returned on the day to set up a mini Live Well display, including:
- Laois PPN,
- Local Link,
- Durrow Vintage Cycle,
- HSE,
- Laois Partnership,
- Laois Sports,
- Family Carers Ireland,
- TASK,
- Laois Sports Partnership,
- Water Safety Ireland,
- Mental Health Ireland,
- Healthy Age Friendly Homes,
- Laois libraries,
- Arthritis Ireland,
- Laois Arch Club.
Attendees and judges were greeted by the members of the Men’s Sheds in Laois, who entertained all with a range of songs.
The organisers stated that this event came about as a result of the Age Friendly Laois and Healthy Laois consultations where accessing supports and services emerged as a big challenge to all ages, especially older people.
The lack of awareness of what was available and the move away from face-to-face interaction was also an issue.
Following the presentation, the judges heard directly from exhibitors and attendees alike about how the Live Well event had benefitted them with some telling stories of how new initiatives had come about directly as a result of the Expo.
Judges also heard from community groups who exhibited on the day, how they had increased their profile and benefitted from linking in with either other exhibitors on the day.
It was highlighted in the presentation that loneliness is an issue for older people in Laois and the HSE screening team at the Expo revealed that this theme had emerged from the 114 people they had screened.
Judge Quirke praised the initiative and commented that the Live Well event was “an example of what can be done when initiatives are supported by local authorities.”
Ms Quirke said the community-led approach to the event “led to a comprehensive range of supports being highlighted,” calling the initiative “an example project.”
The winner of the award will be announced at an event in Dublin on Thursday, November 7.
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