AQW 53510/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 01/10/2026
Answered On Date: 09/10/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any action his Department is taking to support older people to remain independent, active and connected within their communities as they age.

Answer:

The Department for Communities undertakes a range of actions to help older people remain independent, active and connected within their communities as they age. These include:

Implementing the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy, including the launch of the Warm Healthy Homes Fund, which will provide boiler repair support, fuel grants and loans to tackle fuel poverty, improve energy efficiency and support vulnerable households.

Promoting safe, accessible and independent living for older people through the Disabled Facilities Grants for private homes and Disabled Adaptation Grants for Housing Association properties.

Support community participation and social connection through Libraries NI programmes and services, investment in accessible community facilities and volunteering opportunities that help older people remain active, engaged and connected within their communities.

Promote participation in arts, culture, heritage and museum activities including dementia-friendly and age-inclusive programmes that support wellbeing, lifelong learning and social inclusion.

The above actions aim to support older people to live independently for longer, reduce social isolation, improve wellbeing and strengthen ageing communities. Work is also continuing on the new Active Ageing Strategy Action Plan, which I intend to share shortly with my Executive colleagues before proceeding to public consultation process.