ALONE hosts its Annual Community Impact Network Seminar in Waterford with Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler.

Engaging older people in our communities; a collective response and impact.

Dublin, 7th September: ALONE, the charity that helps older people to age at home, will host its annual Community Impact Network seminar in the Tower Hotel & Leisure Centre in Waterford on the 8th September. The theme of the national seminar this year is: Engaging older people in our communities; a collective response and impact.

ALONE’s Community Impact Network is building the capacity of community groups through resourcing, computerisation, training, knowledge sharing and collaborative working. ALONE is developing partnerships between statutory, community and voluntary groups which will enhance services for older people across Ireland. We support other organisations to replicate proven models of service to create a sectoral infrastructure and to consolidate community services provision nationally. All groups within the network are here to support our ageing population to live well at home in their communities and to reduce the impact of loneliness. In 2022, the Community Impact Network indirectly supported over 18,000 older people and currently has over 100 member organisations.

ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan commented, “It is our pleasure to be hosting this national seminar in Waterford this year. The network has grown considerably over the last number of years, which is testament to the good work of the member organisations and the growing need for the network’s support. It takes a strong community network of organisations working together, keeping standards high, eliminating the duplication of services and sharing knowledge and resourcing to build the Ireland that we all want to age in. The Community Impact Network now stands at over 120 members. It provides ongoing training, resourcing and collaboration as part of our commitment to enhance the sector to support older people to age in their own communities. The network provides a wide range of services from combating isolation to health issues, practical supports, legal and financial advice and aid, mobility supports.”

Mr. Moynihan went on to say, “The theme of engaging older people in our communities is a pertinent one, as we look to reduce the health impacts of loneliness. We know from a recent EU-wide survey that Ireland is the loneliest country in Europe, and from our own data that loneliness and social isolation remains the highest area of need for older people who ALONE supports. It is incumbent on the network to show the way to policy makers by demonstrating the need for reforms such as delivering the long-committed to action plan on loneliness, building more housing for older people, providing better transport for older people. We hope that the work of the network will not only increase the ability of the NGO sector to work collectively with all Government departments, but to help people age in place.”

The Event will include panel discussions with guest speakers and Community Impact Network (CIN) members on both the ‘Power of Community’ & ‘What is the prescription for loneliness?’, audience participation, networking opportunities and exhibition showcase for CIN members. The event will feature an opening address from the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler. ALONE has supported over 1,600 older people so far this year in Waterford and the surrounding area (Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow, Tipperary South). Social Isolation made 20% of all assessments of the 26,000 we made nationally this year to date, highlighting the need for a strong and vibrant community sector.

Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler commented: “I am really pleased to see the strength of collaboration which the Community Impact Network has supported, providing an invaluable opportunity for community groups to build and share knowledge and experience to support older people. The Government and I remain strongly committed to tackling social isolation among older people which we know can have a detrimental effect of health and wellbeing. This year, our overall investment in older persons’ services will see an increase of 25% on 2020 figures. I secured €4.1 million for day care services in 2023, which provide a vital support for older people experiencing loneliness. We are also expanding community-based services to support people to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible, with funding for the national roll-out of the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme, and the Support Coordination service provided by ALONE and the HSE. These all play an important role in helping ensure that older people can access the supports they need in a timely manner. I want to extend my thanks to all the community and voluntary groups here today for their commitment to support older people in their communities around the country.”