By Sarah Mac Donald - 17 December, 2015
ALONE, the charity that supports older people in their homes, has launched a new video featuring the Christmas memories of three older persons they work with.
The video aims to remind people to remember older persons in their community who may be alone over Christmas and “remind them to call in for a quick visit – even to say hello,” Roisin Furlong told CatholicIreland.net.
The video was made with the help of filmmaker Cian Brennan, and features Rita, Joan and Cecil.
The video is highlighting that some older persons can suffer loneliness around Christmastime.
“170,000 older Irish people live alone, which makes them vulnerable to isolation. This risk increases at winter when the nights are darker and the days are colder, making older people less inclined to leave their houses,” Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said.
He continued, “We are reminding the Irish public, to check in on their older neighbours, for a cup of tea, a quick word of kindness or just to see if they need a lift to the shops. Many of the vital services and community supports that older people avail of close down over the Christmas period, so for many older people the holidays can be a particularly isolating time where some might not see anyone for days.”
ALONE say that there are a number of ways that the public can help an older person this Christmas. Some of these are: calling by an older person’s house to say hello, ensuring they have enough food, medication and heat, bringing them out for a drive or to a social event and giving them a hand with their shopping.
This Christmas Day, ALONE’s volunteers will bring hot Christmas dinners to numerous older people living on their own.
In the lead up to Christmas ALONE also hosted a social dinner dance, a vital social outlet for service users that was attended by over 130 older people.
They also delivered over 500 hampers full of vital supplies to help older people who use ALONE services through the Christmas period and bring a little Christmas magic back into their lives.
ALONE provides a crucial befriending service to older people who are isolated, along with providing supportive housing to over 100 older people.
The most vital area of service provision during the winter months is the Support Coordination service, which deals with emergency calls for assistance as well as longer term supports in ensuring people can age at home with comfort, safety and security.
You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlbtWxmUVTo
For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person in the community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032. To make a donation and help ALONE’s vital work this Christmastime visit www.alone.ie
