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Multi-million pound health project launched to help elderly people in Ireland

The project aims to transform the lives of the elderly in Northern Ireland, the Republic and Scotland
The project aims to transform the lives of the elderly in Northern Ireland, the Republic and Scotland The project aims to transform the lives of the elderly in Northern Ireland, the Republic and Scotland

OLDER people in Ireland will be able to avail of a multi-million pound health project to enable them to live independently in their own homes.

The €8.7 million 'mPower' initiative, which is being funded by the EU, is designed to transform the lives of the elderly in Northern Ireland, the Republic and Scotland.

It aims to "enable older people with long-term conditions to take the steps needed to live well, safely and independently in their own homes".

Around €3.5 million has been allocated to helping people in Ireland to "take control of their conditions at home by using technology, while simultaneously freeing up GPs and other healthcare professionals so that they can treat more people".

Speaking at the launch yesterday, Shona Robison, Scottish cabinet secretary for health and sport, said: "The mPower initiative illustrates how people can interact with digital technology to support and manage their health and wellbeing and it is crucial we look to innovation as we design a health and social care system that is fit for the changing needs of a 21st century Scotland".

Alan Connor , 'mPower' project manager, said he believed the initiative can make a difference "to the future of health care".

"Around 66 per cent of people in Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland will have one or more long-term conditions by the age of 65, so promoting self-care at home is an important step in alleviating the pressure the health service faces, while enabling people to better manage their conditions," he said.

Gina McIntyre from the Special EU Programmes Body, which is managing the funding, said the "novel project... will help thousands of older people across Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland live longer with more confidence in their own homes and communities".