According to ALONE, an organisation that helps the elderly, 1,900 Christmas meals will be delivered tomorrow, a 16% rise from the previous year, reports RTE.
During this Christmas season, the charity is urging the public to check in with elderly individuals who might be feeling lonely.
Nearly one-third of people over 65 live alone, according to Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, who made this statement on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland show.
“Older people that live on their own are the most at risk of poverty of any age group. If your income is only the State pension, and you’re on your own, you still have all the energy bills, heating bills, house bills, so for us, there’s a constant flow of people in need of support, to help them age in place and age in the community well,” he said, reports RTE.
“The reality is, with the levels of loneliness, we need everybody to reach out and share the warmth with the older people in their community… ten minutes of your day might change the direction of the day, and somebody’s emotions, for that day,” reports RTE.
“We’re here for you, and we’ll hopefully make next year a better year,” Mr. Moynihan said, urging anybody who was having trouble to get in touch with the organisation.
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