Service needs and access to services among older community-dwelling people: a participatory research project

The project examines service needs and utilisation among older people in the parish of Marino and Fairview in Dublin. It will provide an overview of the current levels of provision of supportive services for older people and shall make recommendations for better co-ordination of services at a local level. With the view to promoting the voice of the older people in the community, the research will identify priority issues and needs of the older people living in the area. The research will also seek to explore the opinions and concerns of service providers and informal care-givers in the area and address gaps in services, thus identifying how greater coordination of service activities can be achieved.

The project will utilise participatory and inclusive research methods in order to maximise the older residents’ involvement in all stages of the work. Project commences in January 2007. Project PI: Martha Doyle, co-investigator Virpi Timonen.