Revealed: Tipperary man takes up role as South Tipperary Co-ordinator

David Whelan from Tipperary Town, who now resides in Bansha, has taken up the role of South Tipperary Co-ordinator for the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme.

The Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme aims to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence, for as long as possible.

The programme’s ambition is to enable everyone to live longer healthier lives by keeping care close to home and expanding the range of health and social care services in the community.

It is about providing a range of alternatives for older people who may otherwise transition into long term residential care prematurely.

The programme was being piloted in nine local authority areas but is now being scaled up nationally.

Martin Quinn caught up with David recently and he told him that he has called Bansha his home for the last 12 years.

"I have worked in the public sector for almost two decades, and have spent half that time working for specialist branches of An Garda Síochána, most notably the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Garda National Vetting Bureau.

"I then moved to the Local Authority Sector where I worked in housing roles with Tipperary Co Co, HAP and the Local Government Management Agency, where I was National ICT project lead.

"I have a number of Honours degrees in Public Administration, Community Development and Housing Studies and I also hold a SPA Masters in Combating Challenging Behavior.

"I am originally from Tipperary Town but have called Bansha my home for the last 12 years. I am kept on my toes with three children and another on the way.

"In my spare time I help out with coaching the Tipperary Town FC schoolgirls academy, and both I and my Ali are currently coaching the u10s," said David.

As co-ordinator for the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator Programme David will case manage a support package for each person referred, linking the supports from the variety of public, voluntary, private and community agencies in the area.

He will carry out a home based assessment and, in partnership with the older person, will identify and design a range of supports to enable the older person to continue living independently.

Martin I asked David as to how he felt about taking up the role.

"I am delighted to be appointed as South Tipperary Coordinator for the programme. This is a free service designed for Older People aged 65 and over.

"It is a unique model of support coordination, bringing together health and housing, to deliver a service that responds directly to the needs and preferences of Older People. Referrals can be made by anyone once consent of the participants has been received or participants can also self-refer to the programme.

"We also link in with the HSE, public health nurses, GP's, community groups, public representatives etc. There are dire cases out there with elderly people living in poverty and unsuitable conditions which we will be targeting, but there are also people in the prime of their life who may think that this programme does not apply to them.

"These same people can often be the same ones that do not know about their benefits and entitlements, hence I would urge anyone over the age of 65 to make a referral, even just to safeguard for the future and to know about the different options available to them.

"It is my hope that the programme will make a real impact to the lives of people living in communities across Tipperary and nationwide," said David.

On referral the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Coordinator will carry out a needs assessment to establish what supports are required to enable you to continue living independently in your own home for longer.

Information can be provided on adapting your existing home and the relevant grants available to support you to make those changes, with a focus on universal design and energy efficiency.

Being part of the programme does not affect any current home help, medical card, pension or other services being received and it is a Free Service.

David wants to thank his colleague Tracey Thompson who was part of the national pilot for this programme in Tipperary, and who has done a tremendous job in getting the Healthy Age Friendly Homes programme off the ground.

Tracey will continue as co-ordinator for north Tipperary and will be collaborating in some other areas.