Trafford carers celebrate International Day of Older Persons

A group of Trafford carers gathered together to celebrate a very special day in the caring calendar.

Thirteen carers were treated to a barge trip around Broadheath, afternoon tea and quiz to celebrate International Day of Older Persons, a day that recognises and honours the contributions older people make to society and our communities.

They were invited to take part by the Trafford Carers Centre team; amongst the group, were those who run knitting, art and singing groups. While other carers attended have accessed support from the centre’s casework team, counselling, in-house nurse, and bereavement support.

Cllr Karina Carter, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said: “The 2022 theme of International Day of Older Persons was ‘Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World’. Our Trafford carers show resilience, strength and care in what they do, every day, and we continue to be inspired by them and grateful for their contribution to the Trafford community.

“It was great that they were able to come together and enjoy some time out in the sunshine. As a council, we are committed to supporting our older people and ensuring their voices continue to be heard.”

Kirsty Parsons, a carer who runs a ‘Knit and Natter’ group said: “It was a fabulous afternoon, provided a much-needed break and I met some lovely people. I’ve found the Carers Centre a lifeline for support. I’ve accessed lots of their help: the nurse and the counselling have been really helpful for me.”

Locally, there are 41,443 over 65s in Trafford, and in Greater Manchester women over 65 are the fastest growing female age demographic.

Trafford Council leads a range of older person’s initiatives including our Get Connected project run by Age UK, which helps to support older people get online, ensuring they stay connected with friends, family and loved ones through technology.

The Council, alongside Trafford NHS GM Integrated Care Board, also runs a Dementia advice service that provides support to enable those diagnosed with dementia to maintain a high quality of life.