Support Services

Active Retirement Ireland is a national network of groups that stand up for older people, empower them and support them to get the most from their retirement. 

To find a group in your area please check our website at www.activeirl.ie or call us on 01 8733836.

All the activities are aimed at keeping older people active and well. Active Retirement Associations are a lifeline for many older people who would otherwise feel isolated and lonely.

All older people are welcome to join Active Retirement Ireland, to have fun and have their voices heard, regardless of age, gender, culture or any other grounds.

At national level, through the work of the organisation, ARI aims:

• To promote older people as independent, self-organised and active members of their communities.
• To act as a voice for older people and their concerns at national level.
• To promote positive ageing attitudes in Ireland.
• To provide training, support and information to the local associations of older people in our eight regions.
• To network the local associations for peer support, capacity building and information sharing.

Provides a drop-in information service on Older Peoples’ rights and entitlements,
lobbying and advocacy and the provision of education and training such as computer
and language classes.

About
My name is Gina Dowd and I work as a Counsellor/ Psychotherapist with Adults, Teenagers and Children. I have been providing counselling and support to individuals and families for over 15 years in various settings.  A qualified Psychotherapist, I trained with the Tivoli Institute in Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy. I am a member of the Irish Association of Counselling Practitioners and am Garda vetted by the HSE.
My initial training was in Social Work. I have worked within both the public and private sector of the HSE and NHS in Ireland and the U.K. Having completed a Degree and Masters in Social Work I gained further training in Bereavement and Loss, Family Therapy, Children and Loss, Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. My experience includes work with Bereaved adults and Children in Hospice and Palliative Care Teams, Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse, direct work with young Children and Teenagers with anxiety and loss. Personal development in Yoga training with adults and children has enabled me to incorporate and understanding of both body and mind in my counselling approach.


Services
Children
This work offers an opportunity to young children to explore issues of anxiety, loss change or upset that may be happening in their lives. Working alongside parents in family sessions promotes the interaction and communications patterns that facilitate change. All work requires parental consent and initial family consultation. I work with children from age 4+.

Teenagers/ Adolescents
One to one work which supports the sharing of feelings regarding anxiety, change & loss, sexual identity, fears and worries loneliness or frustration. The therapeutic space I offer is an opportunity for a young person to begin to get to know themselves and figure out their own place in the world. Family sessions are offered in consultation with the younger person as a way to encourage communication and facilitate positive change within the family network.

Adults
The work of therapy is most often associated with present difficulties and a sense of unease in the world. For many this often relates to childhood memories, experiences and introjections. My training in the psychodynamic and eclectic model affords me the opportunity to work with adults who face many challenges and upsets in their lives. For many feelings of stress, despair or anxiety lead to unhappiness in themselves and confusion around identity and the way forward. I offer adults the opportunity to talks through their concerns in a helpful and supportive way so that a person can make sense of both their feelings in body and mind. Short or long term support is offered depending on individual need and requirements.

The Older Adult
From my experience over the years older people today face many issues which are unique to the 65+ age range. Elder Abuse, Issues of identity, Bereavement and Separation are some of the many issues which face the older adult today. Having worked with older people for most of my career to date I have found that support to enable the older person to express feeling of loss and change due to illness, death or abuse are so important. The support I offer is grounded in an appreciation of the wisdom and challenges faced by many older people today and the opportunity to share and express all that is relevant about ageing today.

The many issues that I deal with include:
Childhood Issues & Trauma, Sexual Identity, Grief, Loss& Relationship Separation Anxiety & Depression, Personal Development, Sexual, Physical & Emotional Abuse, Self Esteem Confidence & Assertiveness.

People to Contact

The Office for Older People is based in the Department of Health and Children. The Office comprises three Units – Services for Older People; Long Stay Charges; Strategy Development.

The Department's role is to promote a caring society through ensuring access to income support and other services, enabling active participation, promoting social inclusion and supporting families. Older people are supported through income and other support services including the following;

– Information Services – 1890 66 22 44
– Free Travel, Household Benefits, State Pension, Domiciliary Care, Widow(er)s Pension, Widowed Parent Grant, Blind Persons Pension - Tel: 1890 500 000
– Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Disability Allowance, Disablement Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Bereavement Grant - Tel: 1890 927 770
– Supplementary Welfare Allowance - 071 9157100
– Homemakers Te 1890 690 690
– Respite Care Grant – Tel: 01 6732222
– Illness Benefit, Injury Benefit, Medical Care – Tel: 1890 928 400
– Treatment Benefit -Telephone 1890 400 400 
Social Welfare Local Office Galway Tel 091 500800 
Hynes Building, St. Augustine Street, Galway, Co. Galway

Family Carers Ireland is a registered charity (number CHY 10962) and a company limited by guarantee, emerging from the coming together of two long standing charities of over 25 years – The Carers Association and Caring for Carers in 2016. The merger brings the best of both charities together whilst broadening the range of services and supports to family carers and giving one national voice to represent fairness for carers. 

See our website for all the services that Family Carers Ireland has to offer.

Carer Groups

Family Carers Ireland runs carer groups all over the country. These groups meet regularly, usually once a month. The carers that attend set the agenda. Carers often use the time to share coping strategies and local information in addition to offering emotional support. Guest speakers such as Public Health Nurses, HSE and Social Welfare experts are invited to meetings to address carers on issues of interest to them. Groups provide a valuable opportunity to meet others with similar caring experiences. Indeed this is how many enduring friendships began.

Groups are also integral to the operation of Family Carers Ireland. We operate on the basis of group membership because it believes that local networks best promote inclusion and support at local, regional and national levels. Groups play a vital role in promoting recognition of the identity, contribution and needs of family carers, in articulating existing and emerging need and in representing family carers’ issues both to policymakers and to the general community. The organisation recognises three categories of group as eligible for membership in this capacity: local groups, regional forums and virtual groups.

Five or more members coming together with the same goals and meeting on a regular basis may form a group affiliated with Family Carers Ireland. Members of FCI groups will be united by a common bond, which could simply be a shared geographical area, or caring for family members with a condition in common, e.g. parents of children with Autism / ADHD.

There are three different fee options in relation to membership:

An annual subscription fee of €10, (€8 for group members) enables you to become a full member of FCI and add your voice to that of other family carers.
In addition, full members can, on payment of an annual €10 supplementary fee, avail of a discount card which entitles you to our negotiated exclusive deals.
Some groups may opt to become Associate Members of Family Carers Ireland, for €250 per group per annum.
Your membership fee helps to fund a range of services to carers and their families.

Carer groups allow carers to:

• share their experiences, feelings, ideas, concerns, information and problems
• access information on their rights and entitlements
• act together to highlight carers issues with decision makers
• have a sense of connection with other family carers in similar circumstances
• have a break from the caring situation
• relax, socialise and learn from other carers
• cope from day to day

People to Contact

Galway Hearing Care is a private family run Audiology service providing Hearing Assessment and digital hearing aids to adults and children over 4 years of age. Our reputation speaks for itself and it is why ENT Consultants in UCHG and The Galway Clinic trust us with their Patients. We offer full PRSI grant (€1000) every 4 years towards the cost of hearing aids (to qualifying applicants).

People to Contact

Age Action Ireland organises beginner computer classes for over 55’s. The aim of the “Getting Started” programme is to introduce older people to the basics of internet and email. These classes are aimed at people with little or no previous computer experience.
Participants will be taught in small groups by trained volunteer tutors. The course normally run for 2 hours once a week for 4 weeks. They are free in libraries and there is a fee of €20 in some of the other venues. Please call us for exact details on each venue.

People to Contact

 If you are concerned about Elder Abuse or want to get help, you can contact the HSE Information Line on 1850 24 1850.

The HSE information line is open Monday to Saturday, from 8.00 in the morning until 8.00 in the evening.

In an emergency, where a person is at immediate risk, you should contact the Garda Siochana or Emergency Services on 999 or 112.

The HSE is covered by the Freedom of Information Act meaning that records held by the HSE can be applied for and if a range of criteria are met can be released to the public. Personal information like medical records can only be released to that person.

The HSE provides a national information services on a wide range of health services, entitlements and eligibility. The Info line operates from 8am to 8pm Monday- Saturday.

The aim of the Irish Countrywomen's Association is to provide a welcoming and fun organisation which offers support, friendship, personal development, education and live long learning.

Our members regularly learn new skills, participate in local charity initiatives and get involved in their local communities. As a member of the ICA our structure means that your voice is heard locally, in your county and nationally as we work to ensure that women’s interests, family policies and community values are at the forefront of Government policy both nationally and in county councils locally. 

For a list of ICA Guilds in you county please check our website www.ica.ie under the Join heading or call us on 01 6680002

Independent Living Ireland Ltd provides telecare and assistive living services to promote independence, dignity and quality of life to the elderly, people with disabilities and their carers.

Our products assist those in need to live safely in their homes by reducing the risks of fire and flood, improving security and providing peace of mind in emergency situations e.g fall detection, that a family member/neighbour/monitoring centre will be alerted immediately.

We have two demonstration houses in Athlone town and Ballyconnell Co.Cavan which allow carers, families and individuals to view a wide range of telecare and assistive living products and to test their application.

Evidence has shown that people are happier and live longer within their own homes. All of our home care service programmes are designed to promote independent living within a safe and comfortable environment. Whether you’re looking for basic home help from qualified carers or advanced home nursing or home care services, our Home Care company can work with you to design a home care service package that meets your needs.

Our home care services include:

Respite Care
Assisted Hospital Discharge
Care for Children with Special Needs or Illness
Assisted Living
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care
With offices in Dublin, Galway, Dundalk, Cork, Waterford and Limerick and a team of nationwide carers and registered nurses, our Home Care company, myhomecare.ie, is a leading supplier of home care services and home nursing solutions right across Ireland.

Would you like to work as a carer for myhomecare.ie?

If you have completed a carer course
If you are a caring person and have a genuine interest in helping others
If you have experience of caring for a loved one and would like to become a Homecare Assistant
If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you.

People to Contact

RHS Home Care is a not for profit co-operative society with charitable status.

With offices in Roscommon, Mayo, Galway and Sligo, we are providing a home care service for hundreds of clients across the west, northwest and midlands.

We have a pool of highly skilled employees who provide a range of services including social care, care of the elderly, house management, childcare, and garden maintenance in their locality.

Here is a sample of some of the private home care services we provide on a full or part time basis:

• Social Care
• Running of errands
• Care of the Elderly
• Transportation to shops, religious services etc.
• Personal Care
• Assistance with walking and exercise
• Respite Care
• Assistance with getting up and going to bed
• Convalescence Car
• Assistance with personal hygiene
• Incontinence Care
• Companionship
• Dementia Care
• Meal preparation
• Light housekeeping
• Assistance with laundry and ironing
• Sleep-over Service     

•     Childcare
•     Garden maintenance
•     Window Cleaning

Senior Help Line is a confidential listening service for older people by trained older volunteers for the price of a local call anywhere in Ireland.http://www.thirdageireland.ie/seniorline

Senior Help Line’s vision and mission is that every older person in Ireland would know the LoCall number, call if they need us and receive an empathic response.

The lines are open every day from 10am to 10pm.

The Alzheimer Society of work work with people with dementia and their families. Our services include home care, day centres, support groups and dementia advisor and information services.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland have services in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

Galway

In Galway we currently have the following services and supports; Day Care, Home Care, Carer Support Groups, Dementia Adviser Service, Alzheimer Cafe and Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.
Please visit our website on www.alzheimer.ie or contact our confidential helpline on 1800 341 341 or by e-mail on helpline@alzheimer.ie for further information or support in addition to contact details of our services.
 
Mayo

In Mayo we currently have the following services and supports; Day Care.

Please visit our website on www.alzheimer.ie or contact our confidential helpline on 1800 341 341 or by e-mail on helpline@alzheimer.ie for further information or support in addition to contact details of our services.

Roscommon

In Roscommon we currently have the following services and supports; Day Care and Community Dementia Support Nurse.

Please visit our website on www.alzheimer.ie or contact our confidential helpline on 1800 341 341 or by e-mail on helpline@alzheimer.ie for further information or support in addition to contact details of our services.

People to Contact

Westcare Homecare Ltd, is a private company owned and operated by Geraldine Casserly and Sharon Carter, both of whom have extensive experience in the home care industry.  Westcare Homecare Ltd  provides quality care to persons in the home.  All our carers are Fetac level 5 trained, insured, Garda Vetted and referenced check.  We provide care to the elderly, persons with physical and intellectual disabilities, persons with alzheimers, and those requiring pallative care. 

People to Contact