ALONE – Show an older person you care this Christmas
Dublin, 23rd November 2016 ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, today launched their Christmas campaign highlighting the isolation and loneliness of older people around Christmastime. At the launch of the campaign Anne Doyle, one of Ireland’s best loved broadcasters, urged members of the public to reach out to the older members of their community this Christmas and offer support to those who are living alone.
Anne Doyle commented at the launch, “I have been an admirer of the work of ALONE for many years and I am delighted to help them launch their Christmas campaign this year. Loneliness and isolation can be real problems for older people and it’s important that we are all aware of this.”
She continued “Today, with our hectic lifestyles, many of us know little or nothing about our neighbours. ALONE are asking people to check on their older neighbours, they may need something, even if it’s only your company and your time. If an older person knows someone is looking out for them it gives them an enormous sense of security and comfort. This Christmas let’s show them someone cares.”
As part of this year’s Christmas Campaign, ALONE is also urging older people not to be afraid to ask for the care and support they deserve and are entitled to.
Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE said, “ALONE’s Christmas Campaign this year is not just about charity, it’s about rights. Older people not only deserve to live with dignity but they have a right to. We want them to know that they have a right to be supported, to receive the care they need and to live in a place of their own choosing.”
He continued, “Over the winter period calls for support dramatically increase and loneliness is one of the main issues that older people face. Many older people think that by asking for help and support they are bothering people. We want them to know that they deserve more than a little help and support and they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for it. For those who may feel that they have no one to ask for help, ALONE offers supports and services that can link older people back in with their community and neighbours.”
ALONE say that there are a number of ways that the public can help an older person this Christmas some of these are; calling by an older persons house to say hello, ensuring they have enough food, medication and heat, bringing them out for a drive or to a social event and giving them a hand with their shopping.
At Christmas, ALONE’s activities include; the organisation of 300 volunteers who visit older people each week, a Christmas dinner dance for older people and volunteers, the delivery of hundreds of Christmas hampers to older people in need and a special Christmas Day dinner delivery for a number of older people.
For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person in their community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032. To make a donation and help aid ALONE’s work this Christmastime visit www.alone.ie