EDITORIAL: Check in on elderly neighbours this Christmas

CHRISTMAS is a special time for families across the county to take some downtime from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some old fashioned company and chat.
It’s hugely important over the holiday period to try and make a real effort to reconnect with our families, but to also look out for members of our communities who may feel lonely or isolated during the festive period.
ALONE, the organisation which enables older people to age safely at home, is urging the Irish public to share their warmth with older people this Christmas.
Supporting the launch of ALONE’s Christmas campaign at Bewley’s Café in Dublin recently, RTÉ newsreader Eileen Dunne said we all have the power to make one older person’s Christmas that bit brighter.
“That’s what the idea of sharing your warmth is about – supporting ALONE, looking in on an older neighbour, making a call to an older relative, letting older people know they’re valued and loved at this time of year.”
ALONE CEO Seán Moynihan said by the end of December, ALONE will have supported around 40,000 older people across 2024 and made nearly 300,000 phone calls supporting people across Ireland.
“Our incredible volunteers and staff are there for older people 365 days of the year, but Christmas is a great time to reflect on how far we’ve come, and the challenges older people still face in health, finance and housing issues,” said Mr Moynihan.
This year, ALONE expects to deliver over a thousand Christmas dinners to older people throughout the country. There are thousands of older people who’ll be the life and soul of the Christmas festivities this year, in their families and communities. But for some, that knock on the door from an ALONE volunteer might be the only visit they get this Christmas.

Changing demographics
OUTLINING the changing demographics of modern Ireland, Moynihan added: “We are the fastest ageing population in Europe and that makes Ireland older people the fastest growing age group. We are living longer, healthier lives but ageing is not the same for all.
“We have a loneliness epidemic in Ireland, 57 percent of the older people we assessed report feeling lonely, and that’s especially acute at Christmas. The best way to share your warmth is to look in on an older neighbour, make sure they’re safe, warm and comfortable, and remember that our National Support and Referral Line – 0818 222 024 – is open from 8am to 8pm every day, including over Christmas.”
With the charity making over 18,000 calls to older people in Ireland this October alone, the need for ALONE’s services has never been more apparent. Moynihan called on the public to demand a better future for Ireland’s rapidly ageing population, set to grow by 800,000 over the next fifteen years, with five-eighths of those people aged 65 or over.

Share your warmth
MR Moynihan thanked the Irish public for its ongoing support: “ALONE was founded back in 1977 because the people of Ireland stood up to support our older people. We couldn’t do what we do without that public support. You will never know the impact of a single call, a single visit, a single Christmas card to an older person. So please do what you can to share your warmth, and please keep supporting us by going to www.alone.ie to donate or volunteer.”
Organisations like ALONE do great work but it can be difficult for them to have volunteers on the ground, especially in a large rural county like here in Mayo. So it’s important we all do our own little bit this Christmas to keep an eye out for our elderly neighbours and friends.
In a time where millions are spent on Christmas presents, it’s important not to underestimate how valuable a quick visit or conversation can be for those who may feel alone or isolated.