!

Health and Lifestyle Guide

Active Retirement Network Ireland

Supported by:
! Contents
! Introduction 4

! Diet 5

! Exercise 6

! Common Ailments and Prevention 8

! Muscles, Bones and Joints 10

! Brain and Mental Health 12

! Heart Health 15

! Finance Advice 17

! Useful Services: Contact Details 19

! Introduction
The secret of staying sharp and
keeping well as you get older can be
found in four golden rules-
Eat a healthy diet
Exercise regularly
Don’t Smoke
Take part in social and learning
activities.
People who are socially active have
been found to have delayed the
onset of mental deterioration as
they age. Therefore as we get older
we need to ensure we keep
ourselves healthy and active.
Active Retirement Network Ireland,
as a national network of over 480
local Active Retirement Associations,
with over 22,000 members has as
one of its main purposes “to enable
retired people enjoy a full and active
life”. We believe that retired people
should have appropriate and useful
information to enable them to
achieve this purpose. With this in
mind and in consultation with our
members we decided to create this
health and lifestyle guide.
4 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide
The guide deals with over 20 topics
that cover such topics as diet,
exercise, heart and mental health and
common ailments. The information
was drawn from a wide variety of
sources from Ireland and abroad.
This guide is not intended to provide
expert medical advice. We would
encourage people to seek appropriate
medical help if they are worried in
any way about their health.
In addition in the last part of the
guide we include the contact details
of over fifty organisations that can
provide help and information related
to many of the topics covered by the
guide.
Finally, without the support of Seven
Seas and the input of the Health
Service Executive this guide would
not have been possible. We would
also like to thank Clontarf Active
Retirement Association for helping us
with the photography for the guide.
Maureen Kavanagh
Director
Active Retired Network Ireland
! Diet
Eat well and enjoy what you eat

Enjoying and eating a Stretching the food

good variety of food is budget
important. If you eat
Here are some tips on
well, you are likely to
stretching the budget:
feel healthier, stay
Plan meals for the
active for longer and
week and make out
protect yourself against
illness. Choosing your list based solely
nutritious foods can on your plan
help you keep fit and Look for fresh foods
strong and may prevent on special offer
some diseases. Eating Buy in bulk and
well also means freeze extras if you
enjoying your food and can
having plenty of Cut out expensive
variety. Here is a guide convenience items
to the foods you should like pre-cut
try to eat each day. vegetables

The Food Pyramid

Here is an illustration of the different food
categories in the food pyramid, starting at
the top and working down to the
bottom. It is recommended that you
eat more of the nutritious foods
listed at the bottom of the
pyramid than foods grouped at
the top as these are higher in
fats and sugars and are less
nutritious.

Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 5

 ! Exercise
Stay Active

As we get older we need to ensure we keep ourselves

physically active. Taking up a programme of regular
physical activity is one of the most important steps
older adults can take to keep ourselves healthy and
maintain our quality of life.

Physical activity does not have to be strenuous. The

level best suited for older people is described as
‘moderate intensity’, practiced for at least 30
minutes on five or more days of every week. This
should bring a little sweat to your brow and cause
your heart to beat a little faster and your lungs to
breathe deeper and faster, but not out of breath.

! The health benefits of physical activity Decreased hip and vertebral

Even a moderate amount of physical fractures
activity can bring significant health Decreased risk of falling
benefits, including: Improved function and decreased
Improved blood pressure pain in osteoarthritis
Decreased risk of coronary artery Improved quality of sleep
disease
Improved mental function and
Improved heart failure symptoms and
short-term memory
a decrease in hospitalisation rate
Improved cholesterol levels Decreased rate of depression
Decreased risk of diabetes Potentially decreased risk of colon,
Helping the body use sugar more breast, prostate, and rectal cancers
efficiently Decreased risk of obesity
Decreased bone-density loss in Helping maintain muscle and
post-menopausal women physical functioning.

6 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

 Remember, modest increases in
how long you live are possible
even if you don’t begin
exercising until 75 years of age.
Thus any activity for older
people is better than none.

Important general
guidelines
Talk to a health professional
before starting a physical
activity programme so as to
identify your limits. Some
minor soreness or stiffness is to
be expected at first, but pain is a
warning sign to stop. If you
Caution signs
have been inactive for years,

!
start with about 5 to 10 minutes Stop exercising if you
of activity at a time, and develop any of the
increase gradually as you get following:
more comfortable. Choose Chest or upper
activities you enjoy and try to abdominal pain that
mix your activities. may spread to the neck,
jaw, upper back,
shoulder, and arms (call
Go for Life is the national for help if this should
programme for sports and occur as chest pain can be a signal of
physical activity for older a heart attack)
people in Ireland. Go for Life
is an Age & Opportunity Panting or extreme shortness of
initiative, funded by the breath
Irish Sports Council. Nausea
It runs in partnership with
the Health Service Persistent pain, joint discomfort, or
Executive Health Promotion muscle cramps.
Units and the Local Sports
Partnerships Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 7
! Common Ailments
Prevention is better than cure
Flu (Influenza)
Stay indoors, keep warm
and drink plenty of
liquids. Flu is a highly
infectious illness. A
person carrying the virus
can spread it by coughing
or sneezing. A person can
spread the virus from 1-2
days before they develop
symptoms and for up to a
week after symptoms
develop.
8 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide
The Feet
Corns, Calluses and Bunions - Wearing
shoes that fit better or using special pads
may solve the problem. If they become
painful, visit the chiropodist or doctor.
Athlete’s Foot - Keep your feet –
especially the area between your toes
clean and dry. Change your shoes, socks,
tights or stockings often. Use anti-
fungal foot powders or creams regularly
and if the condition does not get better
within two weeks, visit your chiropodist
or doctor.
In-growing toenails - Your chiropodist or
doctor will advise on how to treat the
condition. Never attempt to treat in-
growing toenails yourself.
Simple painkillers such as paracetamol
may help relieve headache or muscle
pains. Flu has more severe consequences
in the elderly, who are targeted for flu
vaccination.
Vaccination is a safe and effective way to
prevent infection. To minimize the spread
of Flu use a tissue when you cough and
sneeze, dispose of the tissue and wash
your hands.
Hearing loss
Hearing losses can range
from mild to total deafness,
so it is important to contact
your doctor if you have any
worries about your
hearing. The doctor will
investigate the cause of the
problem and you may need
your hearing tested at your
local Health Centre or
public hospital. Hearing
tests are painless and safe,
involving a test of your
ability to hear tones at
different volumes. The test
results will be used to
diagnose and treat your
hearing.
Glaucoma - Medicated eye
drops usually control chronic
glaucoma. It is important to
use the eye drops as
recommended to prevent any
further loss of vision.
Dry skin
Dry skin is a common problem
and our skin takes quite a bashing,
so we all need to look after it by
using proper moisturisers and
emollients. Dry skin can be
associated with eczema and itchy
and cracked heels.

Eyes
Cataract - To ease the
effect of cataract
sometimes a change of
eyeglasses may be
sufficient. If the condition
is interfering with your
daily activity, a cataract
operation is a common
procedure, which is often
performed as day surgery.

Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 9

! Mobility
Bones, joints and muscles are the body’s
scaffolding, which hold the rest together
as the skeleton, and make it move
with the muscles. Your joints are
important to let you move freely,
but they can become damaged
by injury or by osteoarthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis or gout.

Joint pain is a common

condition often requiring pain
relief medicines or warming pain
relief. Joint injuries requiring first aid Osteoarthritis
usually need a different initial treatment Osteoarthritis is by far the
using cooling pain relief and support commonest form of arthritis
bandages. Arthritis and rheumatism are and is caused by thinning of
the words commonly used to describe the cartilage lining the joints.
joint pain, but there are many different Cartilage is nature’s shock
types of arthritis and rheumatism, each absorber, which stops bones
with their own different cause and rubbing together.
treatment, and so it is important to Osteoarthritis involves the
know which one you have. breakdown of cartilage, which
tends to thin with the passing
Arthritis of the years. This brings the
Arthritis is any painful condition of the bones closer together, to the
joints. There are many types of arthritis, stage where they are close
and each one has a different cause, and enough to cause pain, and the
shows a different pattern of symptoms. closer rubbing of the bones
It is important to have a proper can cause inflammation. It
diagnosis, as the treatment for each can also be caused by damage
type is very different. to the joints by injury.

10 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

!
Cod liver oil is a traditional health
supplement that has been taken
for hundreds of years for the relief
of joint pain and stiffness. Only in
the past 30 years has research
shown that it is omega-3 fatty
acids in cod liver oil that have
such beneficial effect on joint
inflammation and cartilage
degeneration. Glucosamine,
which is a form of amino sugar,
plays a vital role in cartilage
formation and repair.

Rheumatism
Rheumatism is a broader term
than arthritis, where not only are
the joints involved, but also the
muscles and ligaments associated
with the joints.

Gout
This is extremely painful.
Improved diet, reduced weight
and reduced alcohol consumption
will alleviate its impact.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is the thinning of
the bones, which can occur if we
do not look after our bones with
good nutrition and exercise, and
is common in old age making
your bones break easily. See also
Calcium Supplements.
Your Back
Back pain is very common, and
most people suffer from it at
some time in their lives, though
for some it is a chronic problem
and keeps returning. Treatment
involves using pain relief
medicines, heat and back
supports. Remaining as active as
possible helps with recovery.

Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 11

 Mental Health
! How do I manage my mine?

Hints and tips on positive mental health

Mental health has to
The most important thing is to develop a
do with many aspects healthy lifestyle. The following suggestions
of our lives including: may prove helpful.
How we feel about Self Esteem - When we hold ourselves in
ourselves high self-esteem, we can live comfortably
with both our strengths and weaknesses
How we feel about
because we accept and respect ourselves.
others
Sleep - The quality of sleep is important for a
How we are able to person to wake feeling refreshed and rested.
meet the demands The function of sleep is to let the body repair
of life. itself both physically and mentally.

12 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

 !
Communication - Depression
Being able to express Everyone feels sad sometimes,
your feelings, but if sadness lasts too long it
disappointments and may be depression. Although
joys is essential to depression may strike ‘out of the
good mental health. blue’ and for no obvious reason,
Relationships - How there is usually more than one
we feel about cause. There are many things that
ourselves has a direct can help prevent or treat
bearing on how we depression. These include:
relate to others. Talking to a family member or
Having healthy, friend about any upsetting
satisfying relationships experiences
is important. Friends Keeping in contact with family
and family members and friends
can be a great source
of comfort and Developing an interest or
support in times of hobby
distress. Joining a local support group
such as Active Retirement
Relaxation - Take at
Association
least 20 minutes a day
for relaxation. Always Eating a balanced diet,
plan your time to including plenty of fresh fruit
relax, otherwise it may and vegetables
not happen. Relaxation Taking regular exercise – such
can be a few moments as walking
of quietness or simply Avoiding alcohol
enjoying a hobby or
interest.
Depression can be managed in
Keep your brain active different ways, including the
- Keeping your brain following:
active by reading, Medication
learning to sing, doing
the crossword. Counselling/Talk Therapy

Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 13

What is Dementia?
Dementia is the umbrella
term used for a range of
symptoms, which
manifest in a decline in
intellectual functioning,
caused by degenerative
disease of the brain. This
decline in functioning can
lead to a progressive
deterioration in memory,
intellect, judgement,
language, insight and
social skills. It effects the
person’s ability to carry
out daily activities and
may also effect their
mood and personality. Memory loss
Difficulty in performing everyday
Alzheimer’s Disease is the tasks
most common form of Changes in mood and behaviour
Dementia. As there is no
straightforward test for Changes in personality
Alzheimer’s disease, making Disorientation in familiar
a diagnosis can be difficult, surroundings
particularly in the early
Problems with language
stages. A diagnosis is usually
made by excluding other
causes, such as infection. Early diagnosis is important as
The early signs and treatments are available that may help
symptoms of Alzheimer’s with some of the symptoms. Early
disease may vary from diagnosis is also important as it allows
person to person, however, the person and their families to make
the six most common plans for their future needs including
symptoms include: legal matters such as making a will.

14 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

! Heart Health
A healthy heart is essential to
healthy living, so as you get older it
becomes especially important that
you take good care of your heart. It is
never too late to become active or to
stop smoking; making positive
lifestyle choices at any age is good
for your heart.
Risks factors to heart health
Many people know that certain risk
factors influence and increase their
chances of getting heart disease. As
we get older, we are more at risk of
heart disease. Fortunately, at any age
and even if you have a history of
heart disease in your family, you can
reduce your risk of developing the
disease. Making some changes now
can make a difference for a longer
and healthier life.
Angina
For many people the first sign of
heart disease is angina. Angina
happens when the heart muscle does
not get enough blood. This happens
when the coronary arteries are
narrowed because of a build-up of a
fatty substance. The symptoms of
angina vary among different people.
Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide
The discomfort ranges from a tightness
in the chest to severe pain. The
discomfort often starts in your chest and
spreads to your arms or your hands and
even up to your neck or jaw. Sometimes
it spreads around your back. Many drugs
are used to treat angina. The main drugs
used are called nitrates, betablockers
and calcium channel blockers.
Heart attacks
A heart attack occurs when the coronary
arteries that supply blood to your heart
muscle become blocked off. The most
common symptom of a heart attack is
chest pain. This is usually a crushing or
tight pain, which may move to your jaw
or your arms particularly on the left side.
You may also feel short of breath,
sweaty or sick. Some people may feel
light–headed or lose consciousness.
However 10-15 per cent of people who
have a heart attack may not feel
anything. Depending on the severity of
the attack, treatment may vary from
prescribed drugs to surgery. On recovery,
you will be encouraged to enroll in a
cardiac rehabilitation programme, which
will provide you with help and advice on
how to best care for your heart in future.
15
 !
Maintaining a healthy heart
Making positive changes to your
lifestyle can help prevent angina,
heart attacks and strokes. There is
plenty that you can do yourself to
keep your heart healthy such as:
Quit smoking
Eat a healthy diet (see section of
diet for more)
Try to take about 30 minutes of
moderate exercise per day
Strokes Do not exercise for at least 2
A stroke is caused by an hours after a meal
interruption of the blood Maintain a healthy body weight
supply to part of the brain. A Try to relax and to avoid stress.
stroke is not a heart attack. As Do not carry loads that are too
a result of the stroke, the nerve heavy
cells in the brain can not
Protect yourself from cold
function and the part of the weather, which tightens up your
body controlled by those cells arteries.
also shuts down. The effects of
Drink alcohol in moderation.
a stroke are worse in the
beginning. However, there is Reduce the amount of salt in
usually some amount of your diet if suffer from high
recovery in the first six weeks blood pressure.
after a stroke. People who Keep a lifestyle diary to see how
experience a stroke may lose you are improving.
sensation in the face or limbs, Take omega-3. A recent review
or they may suffer a loss of of studies has shown that
vision as a result of damage to omega-3 fatty acids found in
nerve cells in a part of their fish oils help protect against
brain because the blood supply heart disease.
to the brain has been cut off.

16 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

! Budget Planning
For Seniors
Budget planning for seniors
To help you keep better control
of your finances in retirement,
follow the suggestions below to
help you keep on good financial
track.
Do a complete financial
health check
When you retire, it is likely that
you have to make adjustments
to your personal finances. Or
even if you are well into your
golden years, you should review
your financial situation at least
once a year so you know from
the outset what you have to
work with and where you may
need to make changes.
Budget planner
Use a budget planner as a starting point
and input yearly figures for your overall
income (which includes your benefits and
pension etc) and spending. This will give
you a clear snap shot of your current
money situation. Then consider your:
Current balance of savings - which may
help to tide you over when you have
more expenses than usual in the future.
Outstanding loans - in particular the
amount you have to repay and the time
it will take to repay. Any loans to be
repaid will affect your ability to spread
expenses and the amounts you can save.
Identify your goals
As well as your general expenses, you may
also have a particular goal that you need to
put aside money for, such as:
Paying off your debts
Saving for a car or a holiday
Saving for Christmas or birthdays
Saving for small home renovations.
Once you know what your goals are, you
need to work out how much they will cost.
Once you have drawn up a regular monthly
or weekly budget plan you can work out how
long it will take you to build up the amount
Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 17

of money you need and what
you need to do to get it. For
example, you may need to start
a regular savings plan, or cut
back on some spending.
Make a regular budget and
try to stick to it
Sticking to a budget will help
you save for your goals, manage
your general expenses and avoid
debt problems. Use a budget
planner to work out a practical
budget that captures your (and
your partner’s) details. It can
take time to adjust to a new
spending pattern. You may also
find you need to change your
budget a few times before you
get it right.
Keep an emergency fund
Try to build up a small amount
of savings, which you can use if
you should need them for some
unforeseen circumstances, such
as reduced income or additional
medical bills.
You can compare regular savings
from the main banks to find the
best account for you. If you’re
not good at putting money
aside, you might consider using
a standing order to pay into a
separate savings account so
you’re less inclined to spend it.
18 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide
!
Money Saving Tips
1. Make sure you are getting all of your
entitlements. The Revenue website,
Department of Social and Family Affairs
website and the Citizens Information
Centre website are helpful starting points.
2. Get free transaction banking if you are
entitled to it. You may also get certain
services free of charge, such as foreign
exchange and setting up an overdraft, so
ask your provider.
3. Always ask for senior discounts at the
beginning of a transaction. Some service
providers such as hairdressers, hotels,
cinemas, pharmacists etc, offer discounts
for senior citizens.
4. Save on household costs- The Power of
One site has numerous energy saving tips
to help you cut the cost of your utility
bills by using energy saving appliances.
And callcosts.ie has useful tips to help
you save on your phone costs. If you have
an older home and need to get
renovations such as boiler changes,
insulation, dry lining etc, you may be
entitled to a grant. Check out the
Sustainable Energy Ireland website for
more information.
5. Turn off lights and other appliances when
you are not using them.
6. Keep your money safe - protect yourself
from scams and fraud. For further
information look at itsyourmoney.ie.
! Contacts
Useful numbers

Active Retirement Network Ireland AWARE

Tel: 01-6792142 Helpline: 1890 303 302
Email: fara@eircom.net Seven days a week, 10am–10pm
Email: info@aware.ie
Age & Opportunity Website: www.aware.ie
Tel: 01 805 7709
Email: info@olderinireland.ie
Web www.olderinireland.ie Bethany Bereavement Support Group
Tel: 01 494 3142
Age Action Ireland Email: bethanysupport@eircom.net
Tel: 01 475 6989 Web: www.bethany.ie
Email: info@ageaction.ie
Web: www.ageaction.ie
Breaking Point Osteoporosis
Age Concern Northern Ireland Campaign
www.ageconcernni.org www.breakingpoint.ie

Alone
Care Alliance Ireland
Tel: 01 679 1032
Tel: 01 874 7776 / 087 207 3265
Email: alone@iol.ie
Email:info@carealliance.ie
Web: www.alone.ie
Web:www.carealliance.ie
Alzheimer Society of Ireland
Tel: 01 284 6616 Carelocal
National Helpline Freephone Tel: 01 878 2358
1800 341 341 Email: info@carelocal.com
Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm Web:www.carelocal.ie
Email: info@alzheimer.ie
Web: www.alzheimer.ie
Carer’s Allowance/Benefit Section,
AONTAS, Social Welfare Services Office,
The National Adult Learning Government Buildings,
Organisation Tel: (043) 40 000
Tel: 01 406 8220/1 Tel: (01) 704 3000
Email: mail@aontas.com Website: www.welfare.ie

Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 19

 Carers Association Crime Victims Helpline 1800 211 407
Tel: 057 9322920 / 057 9322664 Email: info@crimevictimshelpline.ie
Freephone 1800 240 724 Web: www.crimevictimshelpline.ie
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5.30pm
Email: Dementia Services Information and
nationalcareline@carersireland.com Development Centre
Email:info@carersireland.com Telephone: 01 416 2035
Web:www.carersireland.com Email: dsidc@stjames.ie
Website: www.dementia.ie
Citizens Information Board
Tel: (01) 605 9000 Department of Community, Rural
LoCall: 1890 777 121 and Gaeltacht Affairs, Voluntary and
Website: www. citizensinformation.ie Community Support Section,
Free and confidential service Tel: (01) 647 3000 or (071) 918 6700
Email: info@ciboard.ie Website: www.pobail.ie

Citizen Information Database Department of Health and Children

www.cidb.ie/comhairlevcs.nsf Tel: 01 635 4000
Web: www.doh.ie
Console
Department of Social and Family
Tel: 1800 201 890
Affairs
Email: info@console.ie
Lo-call: 1890 500 000
Web: www.console.ie
www.welfare.ie
Consumer Information Department, Disability Information Ireland:
Financial Regulator, Tel: 01 505 9435
Tel: 01 410 4000 Email: info@disability.ie
Email: Web: www.disability.ie
consumerinfo@financialregulator.ie
Web: www.financialregulator.ie Energy Action Ltd
Tel: 01 454 5464
Consumers’ Association of Ireland EMail: info@energyaction.ie
(C.A.I) Web: www.energyaction.ie
Tel: 01 497 8600
Email:cai@consumerassociation.ie Financial Regulator
Web: www.thecai.ie www.financialregulator.ie

20 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

Friends of the Elderly Irish Association of Pension Funds
Tel: 01 873 1855 www.iapf.ie
Email: info@friendsoftheelderly.ie
Web: www.friendsoftheelderly.ie Irish Heart Foundation
Phone: 01 6685001
Greener Homes Scheme
Email: info@irishheart.ie
Lo-call: 1850 734 734
Website: www.irishheart.ie
Email: greenerhomes@sei.ie
GROW Irish Patients Association
Information line: 1890 474 474 www.irishpatients.ie
Email: info@grow.ie
Website: www.grow.ie Irish Nursing Homes Organisation
Regulatory Authority
Health Service Executive www.inho.ie
www.hse.ie
Health Promotion Unit Department Irish Osteoporosis Society
of Health and Children Tel: 01 677 4267
www.healthpromotion.ie Email:info@irishosteoporosis.ie
Web: www.irishosteoporosis.ie
HSE National Information Line
Monday to Saturday, 8am-8pm Irish Rural Doctors’ Group
Call Save: 1850 24 1850 www.rural-health.net
Email: info@hse.ie
ICTU Retired Workers’ Committee Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament
32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1. Tel (01) 856 1243
Tel (01) 889 7777 Email seniors@iol.ie

Independent Age Mental Health Ireland

www.independentage.ie Tel 01-284 1166 or 086-8353387
Email:
Institute of Public Health
information@mentalhealthireland.ie
www.publichealth.ie
Website: www.mentalhealthireland.ie
Irish Association of Older People
Tel (01) 475 0013 Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Email iaop@oceanfree.net www.mabs.ie

Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide 21

 National Council on Ageing and Older Senior helpline
People LoCall: 1850 440 444 Seven days
Tel: +353 1 6743299 a week, 10am-1pm and 7-10pm
Email: info@ncaop.ie

National Council for the Blind of Ireland Seven Seas Ireland Limited,
Tel: 01-8307033 CallSave: 1850 681012
Email: info@ncbi.ie Tel: 01 6689289
Website: www.ncbi.ie Fax: 01 6689434
E-mail: info@sevenseas.ie
National Federation of Pensioner’s
Associations
Sonas aPc
Tel (01) 873 5702
www.sonasapc.ie
Email nfpasec@eircom.net

National Immunisation Website St Francis Hospice, Dublin

www.immunisation.ie www.stfrancishospice.ie
Office for Social Inclusion
www.socialinclusion.ie St. Vincent De Paul
www.svp.ie
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman,
Tel: (01) 647 1650
Fax: (01) 676 9577 Sustainable Energy Ireland
Web: www.pensionsombudsman.ie Glasnevin, Dublin 9
Tel: (01) 836 9080
Older Women’s Network Website: www.sei.ie
Tel (01) 884 4536 or (01) 884 4537
Email ownireland@eircom.net
Third Age Foundation
Pensions Board Tel (046) 955 7766
Tel: (01) 613 1900 Email info@thirdage-ireland.com
Lo-call: 1890 656 565
Website: www.pensionsboard.ie Third Age
Samaritans www.seniortimes.ie
Helpline: 1850 60 90 9024 hour service
Email: jo@samaritans.org Women’s Health Council
Website: www.samaritans.org www.whc.ie

22 Active Retired Seven Seas health and lifestyle guide

Active Retirement Network Ireland
Active Retirement Network Ireland was founded in 1978 and our
philosophy is based on older people doing things for themselves. Active
Retirement Network Ireland is a national network of 480 local active
retirement associations. These local associations aim to help older
people lead a full, happy and healthy life by offering organised
opportunities for a wide range of activities that enable older people in
local communities to get involved in something that they like. The
purpose of Active Retirement Network Ireland is to enable retired
people enjoy a full and active life and advocate for them.

Strategic Outcomes 2009-2013

1. Be an organisation that people would be proud to be part of locally,
regionally and nationally
2. Be a recognized voice for retired people on social, health, learning
and economic issues in collaboration with other organisations
3. Develop the database, structures, skills, funding sources and
activities of the organisation in a professional manner.

Active Retirement Network Ireland

Web: www.fara.ie
Tel: 01-6792142
Email: fara@eircom.net

Active Retirement
Network Ireland