From the home to the streets

90 year old Mabel Gargan, with the help of 39 year old street artist, Fink,  graffiti sprayed the message that she wants to continue to grow old at home in a super-sized display of solidarity between the generations. 

The arresting image of Mabel spray painting  “I want to grow old at home” was created  by Fink and will be displayed on a twenty foot hoarding just down the road from Croke Park where tens of thousands of match-goers will be able to see feisty Mabel driving her message home on behalf of older people.

It’s a variation of the sentiments which older people have been expressing to  Older & Bolder over the last few months. They include: “I am 84 ¾ and want to stay at home” and “My home help comes every day  for one hour. I am 96 years old. If I was to lose this service I would not be able to live alone.” 

Mabel  says,  “I got involved because I wanted to get people thinking about where they want to live as they grow older and what supports they might need”.

Fink, who draws his inspiration from artists like Warhol and Dali, says, “I aim to make the relationship between the graphics and the onlooker stimulating and thought- provoking.”  

Older & Bolder’s   Make Home Work campaign aims to  heighten awareness about the need for long-term planning to support older people to stay at home as long as possible. For more images from this project please see our Facebook page. RTE Radio's Drive Time programme interviewed, Mabel, Fink and Patricia about this campaign, click here to hear the interview.

Director Patricia Conboy says, “With an effective system of home and community care, older people would be able to age without fear in their own homes. Otherwise people will be admitted to nursing homes prematurely and acute hospital beds will be occupied by people who could be at home if services were available in their communities.”