Carlow’s Age Friendly County is an initiative implemented by a number of local organisations, which began in 2011 to work together across all the areas that impact on the quality of life of older people. The programme helps Carlow as a county to be more inclusive and ensure that older people are involved in the planning and delivery of solutions.

Carlow College is involved with Carlow Age Friendly County through our B.A in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care), whereby our students studying the topic of Gerontology engage with the Age Friendly Network through volunteering.

Since 2011 the programme has delivered a number of successful projects and initiatives including Age Friendly Parking Spaces, Musical Memory Choir, a Dementia Friendly Garden and a Dementia Technology Library to support the memory clinic and those living with Dementia in the community amongst many more initiatives.

Carlow College is represented on the Age Friendly Committee by Dr John McHugh, Lecturer in Social Care. The committee are responsible for the development and implementation of Carlow’s Age Friendly strategy and manages its progress annually.