Public health news: Age friendly communities

Public health news: June 2024

South Tyneside Council started their age friendly journey with the Centre for Ageing Better in March 2022.

''Age-friendly communities are places where people of all ages can live healthy and active lives. These communities make it possible for people to stay in their homes, participate in the activities that they value and contribute to their communities, for as long as possible.''

A local baseline survey and a series of events with residents, voluntary organisations and frontline staff has helped to shape a strategy and action plan for the next four years.

The age friendly steering group meets every six weeks. Each meeting now focuses on one of the 8 age friendly themes and the leads for that theme are invited to provide their respective update.

In April the focus was on open spaces and public buildings, we are pleased that these discussions:

• Include plans to undertake accessibility audits in the town centre, pre and post the new college build, with the aim of influencing a positive experience for those with different lived experiences. This will include the importance of accessible public realm such as seating.
• Reviewing the web pages where residents can report a concern with potholes or lighting, to provide more information and make the page more user friendly. To then support those who are not digitally connected to access this reporting system.

For the June meeting, we have invited the leads from the transport theme and look forward to driving improvements / influencing:

• The refresh of the physical activity strategy, including the importance of active travel.
• To ensure that residents know about the 'Plan a journey website' and to work with the community and voluntary sector to help those who are digitally excluded to use this site 
• The review of the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme process highlighting potential barriers both in the national scheme or the local implementation.

The age friendly agenda provides an ideal platform to raise awareness of specific campaigns. In the March edition we highlighted 'age without limits' campaign and the dementia friendly book launch.

In this edition we want to show our support for:

Carers Week (10 to 16 June 2024)

This will involve a number of experts being available in Welcoming Places around the borough.

Monday 10 June

• 10am to 12.30pm: Carers Information event at Cleadon Park Library, South Shields
• 1.30pm to 4.30pm: Carers drop-in event at Whitburn Library, Hedworth Terrace, Whitburn

Tuesday 11 June

• 10am to 12pm: Carers drop-in at WHIST, Mile End Road, South Shields

Wednesday 12 June

• 10am to 2pm: Carers drop-in at Grange Road Baptist Church, Grange Road West, Jarrow
• 5pm to 7pm: Carers drop-in at ACTS, Beach Road, South Shields

Thursday 13 June

• 10am to 2pm: Carers drop-in at Boldon Community Centre, New Road, Boldon
• 5pm to 7pm: Carers drop-in at Groundwork, Marsden Road Community Centre, Marsden Road, South Shields

Friday 14 June

• 10am to 12.30pm: Carers drop-in at Ocean Road Community Centre, Ocean Road, South Shields
• 1.30pm to 4pm: Carers drop-in at Hebburn Central, Glen Street, Hebburn

Saturday 15 June

• 9am to 12.30pm: Carers drop-in at ACTS, Beach Road, South Shields

International Day of Older People (IDOP)

We are in the early planning stages of the International Day of Older People (IDOP). This takes place from 1 October 2024 - when we plan to celebrate age friendly successes to date and again coordinate a number of drop in sessions across the borough.