NEWKD Home Visitation/HSE Community Work Department.
On Thursday, 9th of October, 2025, NEWKD’s Home Visitation Service Steering Group supported by HSE Community Work Department (CHN 1), hosted our annual Reconnecting with Services for Older Persons Day in The Listowel Arms Hotel. This was our 4th Annual Reconnecting Day.
Ed O’Connor, NEWKD’s Home Visitation Co-Ordinator said, “The core focus of the Reconnecting Day was to provide an opportunity for people to connect and engage with peers and engage with the host of services that are available in North Kerry”. “The day also allows service providers to connect and build relationships”. A myriad of Research shows that Social Engagement can have a positive impact on the psychological, physical and cognitive health in several ways. Studies have shown that older people who have close connections and relationships not only live longer, but also cope better with health conditions and experience less depression. Days like the Reconnecting Day can often be the first step for many to join a local group, an Active Retirement Group or volunteer in a local activity.
The theme of this year’s event was “Fall Prevention and Management and Personal Safety”.
Our speakers on the day were: Julianne McSweeney Adult Safeguarding & Protection Team HSE, Inspector Tim O’Keefe of Listowel District and Sergeant Michael Quirke from the Garda Crime Prevention Unit, John Curtin Station Officer from Listowel Fire Station, Una O’Halloran Occupational Therapist with Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Eibhlis Cahalane Senior Physiotherapist Older Persons Service HSE. We also had a Chair Exercise session with Sinead McElligott from Baile Mhuire’s Better Balance Better Bones exercise programme.
On the day over 100 older people were in attendance, we also had over 27 information stands from services for older people in the North Kerry area including: NEWKD’s – Home Maintenance, Home Visitation Service, Senior Alert Service, Information Stands were also present from HSE Community Health Network 1, An Garda, Listowel Fire Service, Better Balance Better Bones Programme, TFI Local Link Kerry, Meals on Wheels, Integrated Care Plan for Older People (ICPOP), Ard Chúram, Men’s Sheds, Kerry Respite Care, HSE Adult Safeguarding, Chime, Aware, Alone and many more.
Ed O’Connor Home Visitation Co-Ordinator said.
“He was delighted to see such a great crowd in attendance” and said, “our Steering Group was proud to be in a position to facilitate the presence of such a large range of services for older persons in the North Kerry area while also having the opportunity to providing an equally important social event for older people to connect”. Ed continued, “Our Steering Group which has representation from NEWKD, HSE, An Garda and StVincent de Paul works tirelessly throughout the year to ensure the smooth running of our Home Visitation Service and to improve and encourage the continued collaboration and connection with all older persons services in the North Kerry area and beyond.”
For further Information Contact:
Ed O’Connor,
NEWKD, Aras An Pobal, Deans Lane, Tralee, Co. Kerry, V92 CRW8.
NEWKD, 20 Upper William Street, Listowel, Co. Kerry, V31 TR68.
Email: edoconnor@newkd.ie/Phone: +353 (87) 7794765
