An urgent plea has been made for people to check up on elderly neighbours and relatives over Christmas.
Irish Olympian Ronnie Delany, who is an Ambassador for Friends of the Elderly, has asked the public to make the extra effort this festive season.
Older people feel very vunerable at this time of the year, with dark evenings, bad weather and poor mobility playing a part in their isolation.
Currently there are over 157,000 people over 65 who are lonely in Ireland and statistics show that this will be increase to 300,000 by 2021.
Mr Delany said: “Please check in on family members amp; neighbours, to ensure they are safe, warm and not at risk.
“Please help us fight the loneliness that so many older people feel today.”
A spokeswoman added: “Our friendly call volunteers are busy making nationwide telephone calls to those people who are forgotten, lonely and isolated, but we cannot do this alone.
“The demand for this service has increased by 88% since 2017.”
And in the capital, Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe is spearheading a campaign to help older people feel loved and cared for over Christmas.
He said: “The colder winter months can be a difficult time for many people who are vulnerable and may be feeling isolated.
“We are appealing to all Dubliners and indeed people across the country to be mindful of older people in our communities who may live alone or be at risk of struggling with loneliness, health difficulties or fuel poverty.”
He has teamed up with ALONE, the charity supporting older people, to spread the message and to encourage people to spend some time with elderly people they know.
Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said: “Colder temperatures can have a serious impact on the health and safety of older people, and Ireland has among the highest levels of excess winter mortality in Europe.
“We regularly work with older people who don’t have central heating, live in challenging housing conditions, and even people who have used their free travel and stayed on buses and trains during the day to keep warm.
“It’s really important that we reach out to people who may be finding things difficult due to ill health, financial worries, or housing difficulties.
“We hope that by spreading this message and by reaching out, more people will stay safe and well this winter.”
Friends of the Elderly can be contacted on 01 873 1855.
ALONE can be contacted on 0818 222 024 if you have concerns about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of a vulnerable older person in the community.
