ALONE encourage public to check in on older neighbours as Munster prepares for orange weather warning

PRESS RELEASE

ALONE encourage public to check in on older neighbours
as Munster prepares for orange weather warning

Dublin, 26th April 2019 ALONE is urging older people to take extra care following the status orange weather warning issued for all of Munster by Met Éireann in preparation of Storm Hannah. In place from 4am today until early Saturday morning, severe and damaging winds of 65 to 80km/h are expected and gusts could reach 110 to 120km/h for a time tonight.

ALONE is advising older people who are concerned about their own wellbeing during the stormy weather to call for assistance and help if needed. ALONE is also calling on members of the public to check on their older neighbours and assist them if they need to travel to the local shop or post office during the bad weather.

Older people can be more vulnerable during poor weather and stormy conditions. Older people most at risk are those living alone, those with health issues, and those with limited mobility.

Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE commented, “Following a status orange weather warning for Munster counties, we are calling on all members of the public to remember their older neighbours living alone and to consider their needs. We’re advising older people to be prepared by ensuring they have adequate heat, medication, food and to stay indoors where possible.”

Met Eireann have warned that wind warnings could be upgraded to Status Red level and will review all warning later today. A yellow wind warning is also in place for Connacht, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Wexford, Wicklow, Offaly, Donegal, Tipperary and Waterford between 11pm tonight and 9am Saturday.

Further information, including advice and tips for older people in extreme weather conditions, can be found on www.alone.ie.

Those who have concerns for an older person, or older people in need of assistance can contact ALONE on (01) 679 1032. The charity, which depends on donations from the public, has volunteers and staff who can act on requests for assistance, and works in partnership to ensure all calls for assistance are responded to. ALONE can assist and advise on issues relation to food, heat, or medication.

ENDS

Note to the Editor
Representatives from ALONE are available for interview or comment on issues which affect older people, including healthcare, loneliness, pensions, housing, homelessness, and technology.

About ALONE
ALONE supports older people to age at home. We use individualised care plans to support older people to overcome problems large and small, including loneliness, lack of access to medical services, poverty, homelessness and housing difficulties. ALONE staff provide one point of contact to coordinate services and housing, and assist with reduced hospital admissions and quicker discharges. Our assistive technology provides security and support to age at home. Our volunteers provide friendship and practical help by visiting or telephoning an older person some daily some weekly. Over the past 10 years, ALONE has grown from supporting 200 older people per year to 3,500, and from 45 volunteers to 1,500.

For more information contact:
Lauren Freir, Limelight Communications, lauren.freir@limelight.ie, 01 668 0600, 087 238 0853
Kathryn Byrne, Limelight Communications, kathryn.byrne@limelight.ie, 01 668 0600, 085 233 6033