Age Friendly

Chapter 2: Consultation and Consolidation
Special Interest Consultations:
Consultations can also take place in residential or
day care settings once permission is sought from
both the older participants and the care centre
manager. In some cases, patient advocates or
relatives of those using the services can join the
consultation – especially when older people with
dementia are unable to speak out for themselves.
• There is a template for one to one
consultations in the Appendix to Chapter
2. This is particularly useful for facilitators
and recorders in advance of consultations –
whatever the size and venue.
• There is a brief to facilitators on consultation
in the Appendix to Chapter 2 which can be
sent out to active retirement groups or
other groups to give them a flavour of the
consultation process before they attend.
Some Age Friendly City/County Coordinators
have also held focus group consultations and
on the street consultations using surveys.
The format of all these consultations is
simpler and less formal with only the most
suitable topics kept for discussion. On street
surveys were developed and used and found
to be particularly useful in urban areas. The
information gathered in focus groups and
street consultations is just as relevant as the
larger scale consultations because it is coming
from older people who are often harder to reach
and yet have issues that need to be addressed.
See the Appendix to Chapter 2 for a sample of
on street consultation
“
The Age Friendly Coordinator in Clare, Michael Neylon
organised consultations with older people in five locations
throughout the county between autumn of 2011 and summer
2012. “We ran a huge promotional campaign through active
retirement groups, active ageing groups and met with about
20 groups. The HSE also gave us the opportunity to speak
with people in day and residential centres,” explains Neylon.
People who needed it were given free transport to attend the
consultations. Over 400 people in total attended.
”
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