Phone Lo Call 1890 369 369
Age Action Ireland is the national organisation which works to improve the quality of life of all older people and their carers - especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable - by enabling them to live full, independent and satisfying lives for as long as they wish in their own homes.
In partnership with Irish Life, Age Action Ireland is developing Care and Repair Services for older people in Ireland. The programme is currently available in Dublin and Galway City and we plan to extend the service to other locations over the next three years.
The Care and Repair Programme consists of:
1. The Repair Service uses a pool of volunteers and handypersons to carry out small repairs and to complete minor home tasks for older people. Volunteers in effect provide a willing pair of helping hands to do a variety of small tasks that an older person may find difficult to do. The most common services required are;
| Minor gardening (e.g. mowing lawns) | Minor home decorating (e.g. painting) |
| Installing handrails (grab rails) | Tacking down carpets |
| Changing plugs, fuses and light bulbs | Installing security locks and chains |
| Hanging curtains, moving furniture | Installing domestic smoke alarms. |
A “job” is expected to take no longer than an hour, though many small tasks may be undertaken during the same visit. The service is free of charge; the client only pays for the cost of materials used. However, donations are always welcome.
2. The Trades Referral Service is an option whereby a register of reliable and honest tradespersons is maintained. If the required job is beyond the scope of Care and Repair, we will try to provide the name of a trusted tradesperson from our register.
3. The QuoteCheck Service is a service whereby an experienced volunteer gives an informed opinion about quotations received by a client from professional tradespersons.
We are also extending the service to Spiddal, Inverin, Oughterard, Headford, Athenry, Craughwell and Ardrahan. Also on our list are Tuam, Loughrea and Ballinasloe.
Our strategy re expanding Care and Repair to other parts of the country is to transmit the Care and Repair “skills package” to appropriate local community groups or to develop partnerships as a “franchise”.
For more details about the Care and Repair “franchise” approach, please contact Seán Silke on Lo Call 1890 369 369 or email sean.silke@ageaction.ie
