New ‘Happy at Home’ initiative launched to support older residents through the winter months 

Following on from the success of Positive Ageing Month, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council are delighted to work in partnership with the Western Health and Social Care and South West Age Partnership to support the ‘Happy at Home’ campaign through the production of a series of monthly newsletters.

The ‘Happy at Home’ campaign, launched by South West Age Partnership in November, aims to support older people through the winter months.

Monthly newsletters will be available from December, providing a range of short activities for residents to enjoy. Readers can also avail of helpful contact details and information on a variety of topics including shopping safely online, efficient home heating and winter warmer recipes.

With many older residents spending more time at home, the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong, welcomed the initiative saying;

“2020 has been a very challenging year for all of us irrespective of age. We are living in unprecedented times and the “Happy at Home” initiative, running until March, will prove an ideal outlet to get involved in something new from the comfort of home”.

Councillor Armstrong added, “Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, through the Fermanagh and Omagh Community Plan 2030 and through the Council’s Corporate Plan, is committed to promoting inclusion and connectivity and this initiative will help older people to stay connected through a range of interesting events and programmes.”

Seamus Ward, Head of Health and Improvement, Equality and Involvement at the Western Health and Social Care Trust, encouraged participation in the scheme saying;

“As the nights get shorter and we find ourselves indoors once again, I would like to encourage older people in the Fermanagh and Omagh area to take part in the upcoming range of initiatives, get involved and connect with others to try something new. You won’t be disappointed!”

Speaking about the Happy at Home initiative, Marj Aiken, Chair of South West Age Partnership said, “SWAP is delighted to be a partner in the “Happy at Home” initiative and I am confident that it will prove very successful.

This year has been a year none of us will ever forget. Older people have embraced a range of new skills with accessing online activities and learning proving particularly popular.  Not everyone is online however and the “Happy at Home” newsletters will reach out to those who aren’t online enabling that audience to avail of information and important contact details for a variety of different services.”

Newsletters are available to download from the Council website at www.fermanaghomagh.com. Physical copies will also be distributed to local community and older people’s groups. For more information, please email age.friendly@fermanaghomagh.com.