Dublin, 30th September: ALONE the charity that supports older people in Ireland is celebrating International Day of the Older Person on Saturday October 1st. This day is all about celebrating the positive contribution that older people have made and continue to make to our society, culture and economy as well as highlighting the struggles and ageism that some older people continue to face. It is estimated that there are more than 1 million people over 60 in Ireland today, with diverse skills and backgrounds.
ALONE is highlighting increased difficulties experienced by older people that were not resolved in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, including loneliness, lack of access to services, and lack of connection, noting that similar difficulties are being experienced across all generations.
As a member of the Loneliness Taskforce ALONE continues to highlight the impact of loneliness amongst older people and all age groups, and noted that calls on Government to commit €5 million in funding towards loneliness were not answered in the Budget. Similarly, a commitment in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to deliver an action plan to combat loneliness has been delayed and the unfortunate fact is we have over 100,000 older people living in poverty or at risk of poverty.
The Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework report1, which was released on the 29th September, indicated that a large majority (81%) of people aged 50+ reported feeling less socially connected due the COVID-19 restrictions, with 15% reporting no change, and 4% feeling more socially connected. The report notes that the percentage of people aged 50+ who engaged in one or more social leisure activity at least once a week decreased from 2016 to 2018. While social connectedness was measured in 2021, the figures were not included in the report, which notes that given the closure of most in-person social activities at the time, results are not directly comparable.
“It is great to celebrate the positive impact of older people in our country today, while also acknowledging the hardships felt by some older people. We underestimate how much older people enrich our lives, communities and economy every day,” said ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan. “Over the last number of months in the run-up to Budget 2023 there has been a lot of ‘Old vs. Young’ discourse in the media and unwelcome attempts at stoking intergenerational tension. We know from our work around loneliness, health, income and housing that the oldest and the youngest in the country are experiencing similar difficulties and have so much more in common than what divides them. This International Day of the
Older Person, I hope we will all come together and take stock of what we have in common and the relationships that we have with people from different generations.”
ALONE’s visitation support, befriending and telephone support all work to reduce the impact of loneliness with older people by increasing their social activity and morale. Almost one third of adults aged 50+ in Ireland experienced emotional loneliness at least some of the time and we know from TILDA research that loneliness leads to a lower quality of life. Older adults who live alone have a higher risk of social isolation than those who lived with others and social isolation was associated with poorer self-rated health, functional limitations, poorer quality of life, and depressive symptomology.
The over-50s are the only group that have seen a net increase in the number of applications for social housing in 2021, and struggles experienced by young people finding homes and student accommodation have recently been highlighted once again. ALONE is keen to highlight the commonality of the problems faced by older people and younger people and that despite of the age and generational divide the issues faced are similar and the solutions are similar.
A key pillar of ALONE’s services are the support and befriending services offered, which is a perfect opportunity for younger people and older people becoming friends. These relationships often last for years, with many older people and younger people describing the relationships built as life changing.
CEO of ALONE Seán Moynihan commented that “For younger volunteers it is not only about helping the older person but being open to them helping you, and being ready to learn a lot from people who have been there and seen it all. This relationship helps continue the wisdom from one generation to next”
International Day of the Older Person will be celebrated globally on 1st October.
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Team Manager
Emma Fitzgerald
089 409 0549
Dublin North & East
0818 222 024
Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Team Manager
Erik Sopon
000 000 0000
Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Team Manager
Greg O’Reilly
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Dublin North & East
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Martina Kinane
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East Clare
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Toni McCallion
083 062 5854
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Team Manager
Lola Fitzgibbon
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Anne Crowley
086 168 8188
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Greg O’Reilly
083 385 1221
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Regional Head of Service
Name
Phone
Team Manager
Lola Fitzgibbon
086 084 1360
Bandon, Carrigaline, Kinsale
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North Kerry
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Ciaran Gilligan
083 878 6080
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Regional Head of Service
Name
phone
Team Manager
Michael Purtill
086 014 5831
East Donegal
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Ciaran Gilligan
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East Mayo
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Service Manager
Shelby Unger
083 060 2419
Northeast Wicklow
Milltown, Churchtown & Dundrum
Donnybrook, Ranelagh & Ringsend
Volunteer Support Officer
Grainne Kennedy
086 108 2524
Volunteer Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Ciaran Gilligan
083 878 6080
Tuam, Athenry & Loughrea (CHN Learning Site)
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Service Manager
Kevin White
089 409 0549
Balbriggan, Skerries & Lusk
Vacant
0818 222 024
St. Margaret”s, Finglas & Glasnevin
Maura O’Shea
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Coordinator
Michael Kennedy
086 440 2894
Telephone Support Coordinator
Jacob Shakespeare
Telephone Support Coordinator
Anne Marie mc Allister
086 440 7825
Telephone Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Officer
Sharon McManus
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Officer
Vacant
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Greg O’Reilly
083 385 1221
North Meath & Ardee
Paula Boyce
0818 222 024
East Meath
John Stillman
0818 222 024
Location tbc
Vacant
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Coordinator
Anne Murphy
086 035 3904
Volunteer Support Officer
Frances Sheerin
086 108 5965
National Support Line Coordinators
National Support Line Coordinators
National Support Line Coordinators
National Support Line Coordinators
Aoife Callaghan
Sarah kerr
Aoife Callaghan
Bridgeen Coyle
086 032 6801
087 179 3782
086 032 6801
086 014 6732
Service Manager
Natalie Johnson
083 062 5854
South Dublin Inner City
Vacant
0818 222 024
Rathfarnham, Knocklyon & Ballyboden
Vacant
0818 222 024
Newcastle, Citywest & Saggart
Joe Sullivan
0818 222 024
Northwest Kildare
Annemarie Molloy
Patricia Scanlon
086 013 7256
Service Manager
Lola Fitzgibbon
086 084 1360
Southwest Wexford
Natalia Gembicka
086 014 4915
Service Manager
Siobhan Walsh
086 084 1674
Northeast Cork
Vacant
0818 222 024
Central Cork
Veronica Reidy
Clare Seymour
086 075 3867
086 107 9433
Telephone Support Coordinator
Geraldine Commins
086 013 1570
Volunteer Support Officer
Mairead Egan
087 253 1380
Volunteer Support Officer
Maria O’Connor
Volunteer Support Officer
Tracey Kearney
086 440 9893
Service Manager
Martina Kinane
087 407 4085
Caroline Bradley
West Limerick
Margaret Collum
Volunteer Support Officers
Aoife Dennehy
086 211 5307
Volunteer Support Officers
Vacant
0818 222 024
Service Manager
Frances Browne
087 751 6087
Inishowen (CHN Learning Site)
Bronagh Doyle
086 171 6984
Inishowen (CHN Learning Site)
Gráinne Hargan
West Donegal
Emma Kennedy
086 720 8686
Donegal inishowen
Vacant
0818 222 024
Telephone Support Coordinator
Deirdre Browne
074 932 1598
Telephone Support Coordinator
Catherine Reilly
National Support & Referral Line Coordinator
Kathleen Bonner