Killarney Court Coffee Morning with Sage Advocacy
Clann’s vision is a society where everyone has a great place to live. We are committed to supporting residents to continue to live independently for as long as possible in their own home. We regularly host events in our schemes to bring residents together to help tackle social isolation and loneliness in our resident community.
Ivan James, Scheme Manager at Killarney Court, commented “Since I stared my role in June 2021, the resident events have been significantly beneficial for both myself and the residents alike. It has been a way to meet and engage with the residents in a non-formal setting, but equally, it has been a way for the residents to meeting one another again as the covid restrictions lifted. For many of the residents, who had to cocoon or isolate, the weekly events have been a way to re-engage with old friends, but also for some of the newer residents it is an opportunity to meet their new neighbours properly for the first time.”
Killarney Court in Dublin 1 recently brought residents together for a very enjoyable coffee morning. Ivan provided tea, coffee and a delicious selection of cakes and snacks for the event. He also invited guest speaker Helen Fitzgerald, Helen is the Regional Coordinator with Sage Advocacy, an organisation that provides age friendly support and advocacy services for people who feel they need support with various tasks and service providers. Sage Advocacy’s mission statement is “To promote, protect and defend the rights and dignity of vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients.”
The right to have your voice heard and to participate in making decisions which affect you is a fundamental principle in a democratic society. It is a principle simply stated as “Nothing about you /without you”.
Many people face challenges to their independence due to physical or mental illness, intellectual, physical or sensory disability, lack of family and community supports or an inability to access public services that meet their needs.
In circumstances where people may be vulnerable, or have to depend on others, there is a need to ensure that their rights, freedoms and dignity are promoted and protected. Through support and advocacy the will and preference of a person can be heard and acted on; independently of family, service provider or systems interests.
Sage Advocacy was established in June 2014 as a support and advocacy service for older people by the HSE, The Atlantic Philanthropies and Third Age.
The Sage Advocacy helpline is available for anyone who would like information and advice: 1850 71 94 00. Messages will be answered within one hour. When urgent support is required a Sage Representative can be available nationwide within 24 hours.
To find out more about Sage Advocacy and the services it offers, please visit sageadvocacy.ie/resources