Norwegians visit New Age-friendly homes in Athboy

A group of twenty delegates from the Western Region of Norway visited Meath County Council
on April 26. The purpose of their study trip to Ireland is to learn about age-friendliness
developments.

Ireland is the first country in the world to be fully affiliated to the World Health Organization
The organization’s global network of age-friendly, active-age cities and communities
Friendly program in each of Ireland’s 31 local authorities. This work is supported on
national level, with Meath County Council hosting the National Age Shared Service Centre
Friendly Ireland.

Age-friendly strategies help design plans and services to meet the needs of the population
growing aging population, with particular attention to age-friendly environments. In 2051 it will
It is estimated that there will be 1.6 million people aged 65 and over living in Ireland.

The visit of the Norwegian group was organized by the Center for an Age-Friendly Norway, at the
recommendation of the provincial governor of Vestland. Delegates consisted of heads of
Housing and Social Services Services, Directors of Education and Housing, Senior
Advisors, an assistant provincial doctor and representatives from the provincial governor’s office.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Tommy Reilly welcomed visitors to Meath County Council
headquarters, Buvinda House, where they heard presentations about the Age Friendly
Shared serviced office in Ireland, the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme. Van Dijk
Architects described their design concept for age-friendly housing in
Athboy.

This was followed by a site visit to Yellow Ford Age Friendly Housing
development on Kildalkey Road, Athboy. This soon to be completed development
consists of 28 units, designed for the elderly. The units have a universal design and age
Friendly features including wet areas and low maintenance landscaping. Development
includes single- and single-story units. All units have their own entrance door and access
private amenity space on the ground floor (including apartments). Cunninghams
Contractors facilitated the site visit and answered questions about the development.

The site is located on Kildalkey Road, Athboy, centrally located to the town. Age-friendly
Considerations for the site include the location of the site and its proximity to amenities and services
Athboy City; places to sit and rest, spaces designed to promote activity and sociality
interaction and age-friendly surfaces and sidewalks.

Athboy Town has recently undergone public works to improve sidewalks, seating and other amenities
the park, and in 2019 it completed an Age Friendly Town process.
Lars-Marius Ulfrstad, one of the visiting Norwegian delegations, said: ‘With the increase in our…
older demographically, we need to build affordable, innovative and accessible housing for our elderly
generation, with comprehensive services. We are happy to be here in Ireland and
learning about new housing solutions with social spaces.’