Older People Services

Day Centres

Day centres in the North are adult day care settings offering structured support for older people, and individuals with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health needs, or other additional needs. They provide assessment, rehabilitation, counselling, social activities, and rehabilitation programmes, but do not offer accommodation. They are regulated and inspected by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). 

Key features include:

• Help people maintain independence through time‑limited, needs‑based programmes.
• Provide carer respite and support.

Access typically requires an assessment by social services or a GP referral.

Age Friendly Services

 Age-friendly initiatives aim to make communities inclusive, supportive, and accessible for older people, guided by the WHO Age-Friendly Communities model. All 11 NI councils participate through the Age Friendly Network NI, supported by the Public Health Agency (PHA). 

Core aims:

• Promote independent, connected, healthy ageing.
• Improve infrastructure, transport, social inclusion, safety, and access to services.

Align with NI’s Active Ageing Strategy, which envisions an age‑friendly region where older people are “valued and supported to live actively to their fullest potential.” 

• Age-friendly Belfast, NI’s first WHO-recognised Age Friendly city, delivers programmes in social inclusion, health & wellbeing, and age‑friendly urban design.

Trust Services

Health and social care in NI is delivered by five Health & Social Care Trusts, which provide both health and social care services (a combined model unique to Northern Ireland). Trusts manage hospitals, community health centres, mental health services, social care teams, and home‑based support. 

• Trusts offer services ranging from emergency care, mental health, maternity, children’s services, community nursing, to residential care.
• Services are provided via a wide network of facilities across NI and coordinated under the Department of Health.

To access support, individuals usually undergo an assessment of need by their local Trust.

Healthy Living Centres

Healthy Living Centres (HLCs) are community‑led health improvement organisations located in areas with high health inequalities across Northern Ireland. They form the Healthy Living Centre Alliance, a network of 28–31 centres (depending on source/year).

Their purpose:

• Improve health through community‑based, non‑medical support.
• Address inequalities by working directly with residents.
• Provide programmes in chronic pain support, physical activity, nutrition, smoking cessation, mental health, and social prescribing.

Examples of initiatives:

• Transform Your Trolley: a Healthy Living Centre partnership promoting healthy eating and budgeting skills.
• Peer-led support for long‑term conditions, smoking cessation campaigns, and local wellbeing programmes.