Last year, the most common reason older adults called ALONE’s national support and referral line was loneliness, reports RTE.
The nonprofit organisation helped 38,000 people in 2023, up from 22,000 in 2022, according to its most recent annual report.
Roughly one-third of lonely people said they had no visitors, and 9% said they hadn’t gone out with friends in more than a year.
According to the survey, 38% of older adults reported “utility issues” in 2023, indicating that rising energy costs had a major effect on them, reports RTE.
The most common utility intervention that the organisation offered was energy credit assistance.
About 30% of senior citizens reported having legal or financial problems, and the charity’s legal or financial interventions increased by 198%.
Interventions related to mental and emotional health also rose dramatically (122%) in comparison to 2022, reports RTE.
Overall, last year saw a 50% increase in the number of assistance that ALONE offered to senior citizens.
Volunteer visits, medical aid, and, for instance, the installation of technology were all forms of support.
When community-based treatment is available, ALONE collaborates with the Health Service Executive’s improved community care initiative to facilitate hospital discharges and avoid readmissions, reports RTE.
Seven thousand people volunteer for it.
As Ireland’s population ages, the organisation continues to offer assistance where it is most needed, according to CEO Seán Moynihan, reports RTE.
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