ALONE Annual Report: Record numbers of older people seek ALONE’s support, with loneliness, physical health and housing among key concerns

Dublin, October 1st ALONE, the organisation that supports older people to age at home, today released its Annual Report for 2024. The report was launched to coincide with International Older Person’s Day by Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell, TD at ALONE’s offices in Olympic House, Dublin 8.

The number of older people supported by ALONE rose to 44,000 in 2024. ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan said: “The figure of 44,000 older people supported in 2024 is a testament to both the efforts of our volunteers and staff, but also to an immense level of need that exists throughout Irish society. With an ageing population, that need is going to grow significantly in years to come.”

On the significance of launching the report on International Day of Older Persons, Moynihan said:

“The United Nations has given the theme of ‘Older Persons Driving Local and Global Action’ to this year’s event, and that’s reflected in what the older people we work with are telling us every day. Older people are extremely active citizens, they vote in large numbers, and they’re increasingly telling us that their voice is struggling to be heard in national policy debate”.

ALONE’s 2024 annual report marks the last full year of the current strategic plan and shows the delivery that was achieved in that timeframe. The integration with the HSE’s Enhanced Community Care programme, has been key, and ALONE’s role in moving care into the community across every corner of Ireland. We have responded to meet the need in the community, the need of those that we do not always see. Those living alone, lonely and isolated yet still needing support with health, finance and housing issues. We are that support at the end of the phone and the knock on the door, we will continue to be able to be that, 12 hours a day,365 days a year.

Other key findings from the annual report show

• 43,982 Older People supported by volunteers and staff across ALONE in 2024
• 9,117 Volunteers contributed 264,430 hours in 2024, a 21% increase from 2023, worth up to €7.81 million
• 109,040 Visitation Support and Befriending visits (20% increase on 2023) and 213,506 Telephone Support and Befriending calls (13% increase on 2023).
• 25,227 Calls to the National Support and Referral line.

As ALONE embarks on a new strategic plan for the years ahead, the needs of older people in Ireland – as revealed by ALONE’s research – continue to evolve. Throughout 2024, we have seen an increase in older people over 75 years and people with more physical health issues seeking support. Issues like mobility problems, housing issues and financial concerns are among the key areas of supports requested. Our aim now and into the future is to deliver what matters to them in their homes.

Concluding, Moynihan said: “The launch of the report on International Older Persons’ Day is a cause for celebration; both of the incredible efforts of our volunteers and staff throughout Ireland, and of the fact that, globally, average life expectancy has increased by 8.6 years since 1995”.

“But we need to be prepared for the realities and challenges of an ageing population; the UN estimates that by 2050, 2.1 billion of us will be over 60 years old. We need a serious and rational approach to what that means for housing, healthcare and the way we live. I’m proud that ALONE is helping to lead that conversation in Ireland, and we’ll continue to do so in the years ahead.”