Visitation Programme
Visiting lonely Elderly people in their homes is the most important work carried out by Friends of the Elderly. A volunteer is introduced to a lonely elderly person with a view to developing a close and sincere friendship.
We ask all our visitation volunteers to commit to at very least one weekly visit with their Elderly friend. The volunteer also becomes the link between their old friend and the activities of Friends of the Elderly, informing them of organised events in which they can take part like visits to the theatre, concerts, park walks, day excursions and small holidays. The volunteer can also encourage their old friend to take part in various parties and activities at our centre in Bolton St.
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| Enjoying a chat and a laugh |
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Two of our friends enjoying
a Fourth of July themed party
during a Wednesday Club |
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Watch our YouTube Video!
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The Wednesday Club
Every Wednesday we hold our club meeting at our centre in Bolton Street. The club has approximately 140 members. Club days provide an opportunity for our Elderly friends to get together to listen to music, sing, dance, have a cup of tea or coffee and snack and generally enjoy each others company.
We are fortunate to have a volunteer band (keyboard, drums and saxophone) who play every week for our members.
It is at our centre in Bolton Street that we hold all our celebration parties. We at Friends of the Elderly will use any excuse to hold a party, New Years Day, Valentine’s day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Midsummer, Halloween or even national days of other members of the International Federation of Little Brothers.
We also hold our very popular Christmas dinners at our centre.
Dancing is made even more fun by our volunteer band playing!
Holidays
We also organise holidays and trips for our elderly friends. As well as many day trips to different parts of the country, two holidays take place to the West of Ireland. Once a year, we organise a vacation to Paris for our old friends.
Some of the Friends of the Elderly group in
Esker, Co Galway for a 3 day holiday
Theatre visits are a very popular evening out for both Elderly and Volunteers. Most of our work is funded by revenue earned in second hand clothes through our shop, 'Ritzy Rags' which sells quality second hand clothes (many of French origin) bric-a-brac and books.
Two of our friends on a day trip around Wicklow in June 2007
Advocacy Assistance
We are available to aid elderly in any questions they may have regarding such subjects as medical care, housing, pensions, etc. Our friends are encouraged to drop by our centre with any questions and we will always take the time to try to help them find the answers.
A Cowboy Party at Friends of the Elderly
Other Social Activities
We also have many other social activities at our centre as we are able to organise. In the past, we have arranged movie watches, reminscence classes, cooking classes, dance classes, drama classes, walks, yoga classes, and more.
Friends of the Elderly are setting up a Senior Citizens Darts League in Dublin. If you are a senior citizen and would like to join a darts team, give us a call.
