Growing older nowadays offers all sorts of opportunities that were not on offer to my mother’s generation.

If the television programmes are to be believed, extraordinary jobs on the wrinkles are taking place. Science is suggesting that with new treatments constantly coming on stream for the various age-related ailments, we might in the not-too-distant future see lifespan being dramatically prolonged.

And the governments fuss eternally about how to support the increasing number of pensioners. Personally, I can now claim to have more ‘blond friends’ than when I was in my prime and occasionally see myself suspiciously eyeing the youthful look of acquaintances with whom I do not feel sufficiently at ease to ask “Come on, tell us, is that a botox job?”

Apart from all these tactics to delay the physical aspects of ageing there is also a great variety of organisations out there to help people deal with loss and find new friends or activities.

In Ringsend we have the Active Retirement Group that holds activities such as keep fit, indoor bowling, snooker and socials on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the CYMS.
I spoke with a member who says that when she became widowed she would have found it impossible to continue doing many things without the support offered by the Group.

In addition to the CYMS activities the Group organises outings, and for this Christmas a visit to the Concert hall is planned. Their Variety Group visits nursing homes and hospitals entertaining the elderly and doing sing-alongs.

The Donnybrook Active Retirement Group meet in the Church Hall behind Donnybrook Church. This Group will recommence their fortnightly meetings after Christmas. They often have visiting speakers or musical recitals for entertainment. The next monthly outing is to the Gaiety Theatre and at other times they go on trips countrywide.

Mary, a member of the Group says it is all good fun and she is particularly looking forward to this yearís Christmas dinner, which will be held in the Montrose Hotel.

For those who like to take walks, the Ringsend/Sandymount area has parks and seaside facilities as good as any in Dublin. If you would like to go further afield walking, information on marked walks and walking clubs can be accessed at www.mountaineering.ie. Swimmers can avail of the Marian Pool, Enable Ireland or Sportsco and the Westwood Club in St John’s Road, Sandymount has a good membership deal for the over 55s. To enhance physical fitness phone Alison at 2888761 who runs League of Health classes in Donnybrook.

The libraries stock magazines and notices about organisations and activities for the elderly. Pembroke Library has a Reading Group that meets the second Tuesday of every month. Contact Liz on 6689575 to join or talk to her about their Internet Classes that are free and geared towards the computer-nervous older individual. Ronan in Pearse Street Library, 6744888, is the organiser of their Reading Group while Phil in Ringsend Library, 6680063, invites queries from anyone who would like to join the Reading Group that is being planned to start there after Christmas.

Two of the organisations that will send you free information packs regarding activities and groups in your area or neighbourhood that aim to improve the quality of life of all older people are: Age & Opportunity 8057709 website: www.olderinireland.ieand Age Action Ireland 4756989 website: www.ageaction.ie.

A Senior Helpline, 1850440444 is available Mondays10am to 1pm and Fridays 7pm-10pm.
Left: Active Retirement shows how it’s done!