Respond | Housing Association

Positive Ageing and Nutrition Workshop in Leixlip

Some residents from Easton Meadows, Leixlip attended a workshop on Positive Ageing and Nutrition in the Leixlip Library on Thursday 2nd October 2014. The talk was given by Rina Whyte of ‘Eat Your Greens’.

Rina’s talk looked at the foods and nutrients we need to slow down the ageing process, how we maximize our digestion to increase our energy levels, flexibility, maintaining good bone density, cholesterol and blood pressure naturally.

Frugal Friday Initiative celebrate Positive Ageing Week in Cashel

Frugal Friday visit the Respond Community House based at 40 Castlegreen Crescent in Cashel one to two Fridays per month. The latest Frugal Friday initiative involved making homemade beauty products (Friday the 10^th & 17^th October) to celebrate Positive Ageing Week.

Frugal Fridays is a resourceful community group founded by Cher Gleeson Quinlan Community Education Facilitator, Artist and Energy Therapist. Workshops are facilitated by a team of experienced tutors who believe in experiential inclusive learning. Their mission is to encourage and support community members to explore their own resourcefulness, through experiential learning and skill sharing in a comfortable relaxed environment.

The idea is to encourage the exploration of frugal living through shared activities and experiential workshops. Facilitators define frugal living as ‘using what we have, to do what we need, by using back to basics skills, to help people save money’. The group facilitate activities which participants wish to explore to live comfortably within their budget. Some participants choose to grow their own food, and utilise their produce through cookery, others to explore how to create non-chemical homemade cleaning, beauty and self-care products. Workshops are experiential and fun and all are welcome.

Coffee Morning – Dungloe
A coffee morning was held in Dungloe to celebrate Age Action positive ageing festival.
A number of residents and friends attended a coffee morning at Fairhill Lodge Communal Room on Thursday 2^nd October. Tea, coffee, delicious treats, including fresh tea scones, and a chat were all in ready supply. A very enjoyable morning was had by all attendees.

Health Screening – Waterford
A Community Health Screening and Information Day was organised to celebrate Age Action Positive Ageing Week in Waterford. The Health Screening proved to be a great success with over 40 participants taking part.This event took place at Respond Housing Association Head Office located at Airmount, Dominick Place on Friday 10th October in Assisi House.

Residents from all local Respond estates in Waterford were invited to come along for free screening of body max index (BMI) and blood pressure. Advice was available regarding lifestyles challenges including material on reducing cholesterol which reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke etc.

Davin Power volunteered his services to help with the health checks and people were delighted to get the blood pressure and BMI taken. Everybody who attended were happy to be able to discuss their nutritional needs on a one to one basis and have leaflets to take home with them.

Kate Cassidy (Smoke Cessation Officer with the HSE) provided information and expert advice and tips.This advice was well received and people took the advice on board about quitting.

A walk around the abundant allotments in Airmount was must for those who wished to discuss the benefit of growing your own fruit and vegetable.

A great day was had by all and everyone enjoyed chatting over tea and refreshments and looking forward to exercising with the Go for life next week.

A big thank you to everyone who made all the events a great success.

Posted: October 2014