ALONE is reporting a surge in the number of older people seeking its services, according to figures in its latest annual report, reports Breaking News.
In 2024, nearly 44,000 older individuals turned to the organisation for support, primarily due to concerns around health, housing, and finances.
Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O’Donnell, officially launched the report on Wednesday to mark International Older Person’s Day, reports Breaking News.
Close to 11,000 individuals underwent a tailored needs assessment through ALONE, with 52 per cent reporting feelings of loneliness — a slight improvement from 58 per cent the previous year.
However, just half of those feeling lonely said they had someone who visited them, a drop from around 70 per cent in 2023.
Additionally, 6% of people reported not having gone out socially in over 12 months, reports Breaking News.
Concerns around physical health were flagged by 51 per cent of respondents — a jump of 26 per cent compared to 2023, making it the most common issue in the final quarter of the year, overtaking loneliness.
Among those reporting health issues, one-third said they had suffered a fall within the last three months of the year — up five percentage points from the beginning of 2024, reports Breaking News.
Almost one in three older adults reported problems related to housing, with many requiring adaptations to their homes.
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Meanwhile, financial strain was experienced by 30 per cent of those supported, with a steady increase in these concerns noted across the year, reports Breaking News.
The 2024 data also revealed that 45 per cent of those struggling financially were facing difficulties paying for utilities — mostly linked to energy costs.
ALONE CEO Sean Moynihan said: “The figure of 44,000 older people supported in 2024 is a testament to both the efforts of our volunteers and staff, but also to an immense level of need that exists throughout Irish society. With an ageing population, that need is going to grow significantly in years to come. The report marks the last full year of the current strategic plan and shows the delivery that was achieved in that timeframe. The integration with the HSE’s Enhanced Community Care programme has been key, and ALONE’s role in moving care into the community across every corner of Ireland. We have responded to meet the need in the community, the need of those that we do not always see. Those living alone, lonely and isolated yet still needing support with health, finance and housing issues. We are that support at the end of the phone and the knock on the door, we will continue to be able to be that, 12 hours a day, 365 days a year,” reports Breaking News.
Additional highlights from the report showed that 9,117 volunteers gave a combined 264,430 hours of their time in 2024 — a 21 per cent rise from the previous year — with their efforts valued at up to €7.81 million.
Mr Moynihan added: “We need to be prepared for the realities and challenges of an ageing population; the UN estimates that by 2050, 2.1 billion of us will be over 60 years old. We need a serious and rational approach to what that means for housing, healthcare and the way we live. I’m proud that ALONE is helping to lead that conversation in Ireland, and we’ll continue to do so in the years ahead,” reports Breaking News.
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