Alone, the Irish charity which highlights the issues facing older people living alone, has reminded people that even giving five minutes of your time can make someone’s day this Christmas.
Chief Executive of the charity, Sean Moynihan, speaking on Newstalk’s Breakfast Briefing, said that there are “huge levels of loneliness” experienced by older people in Ireland this Christmas, as he encouraged people to check on the needs of those living alone in their communities.
The charity, which provides services to 35,000 people across the country, with the goal of helping older people to stay at home, launched its Christmas campaign, ‘Share your Warmth’ last month, launched by author and psychologist Dr. Maureen Gaffney and volunteer Laura Browne.
The campaign calls on the public to share their warmth this Christmas: “the warmth of friendship and time, as well as financial support,” so that older people can access help if they are struggling with the growing cost of living or loneliness this Christmas.
In the run-up to Christmas, the charity said that it had continued to see a “sharp increase” in demand for its services – saying that the number of older people experiencing hardship “continues to rise.”
1 in 5 over 65’s are living in poverty today, unseen behind a closed door mostly, according to the charity. Since the start of 2023 ALONE has provided 30,000 individual supports to older people, in every town and city in Ireland, which it described as “a huge increase” on last year.
The organisation is encouraging people to take a few minutes out of their day to interact with their older neighbours and relatives who may be experiencing feelings of loneliness this Christmas.
Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Moynigan described Christmas as the hardest time of the year for some of the people the charity helps.
“The reality is, unfortunately, that we have huge levels of loneliness around Christmas from young and older people,” he said, adding:
“Especially for older people at this time of year; if people have been bereaved, or family have moved away – it can be a tough time of year.”
“There is support if you need it; the community does want to include you at Christmas and at other times of year,” he said, adding that anyone can help alleviate loneliness.
“Every great friendship starts with hello, and five minutes of your time can make someone’s day. Because people live on their own – they may not have the social contact they need that keeps us all healthy and well.”
“We all know since COVID, he continued, “If we didn’t know before, that that sort of connection, social activity, and emotional support we get from other people is what keeps us healthy and well.”
Reminding people to check on others, he said making sure people had the basic essentials was key.
“Make sure they have food, heating, and ultimately that they have the support they need,” he said, adding: “If they don’t – whether it’s the older person themselves or a neighbour – please reach out to us.
“We’re here all Christmas. Nobody wants anyone left on their own at any time of year, but especially at Christmas.”
Mr Moynihan also referred to excess winter deaths, “where more older people die during the winter than any other time of year.”
“A lot of that is related to the cold, and we appreciate Government dig outs, but people may not know that older people are most at risk of poverty of any age group,” he said.
According to Alone CEO Sean Moynihan, the charity increases their services during Christmas, as he told Newstalk: “We check in with people at Christmas, make sure they are supported, and make sure everybody has a Christmas dinner.”
“On Christmas Day all around the country, we will have hundreds, close to 1,000 volunteers who will deliver between 1,000 and 1,200 Christmas Dinners on the day.
“Not only are we bringing people food, we are bringing them company and a message that the community wants to support them.”
“Loneliness is not just a problem for the individual – it has wider social implications because loneliness is contagious. Too many clusters of lonely people and the contagion ripples out to the wider society,” Dr Maureen Gaffney said at the charity’s Christmas launch last month.
“So reach out today to somebody in your wider family, social circle or neighbourhood whom that you suspect might be lonely. On the run-up to Christmas, before you get too busy, give them a call just for a chat– if you find that they are actually fine, nothing lost. It’s an act of connection and every connection counts.”
Alone can be reached seven days a week, and can be contacted over the Christmas period from 8am to 8pm by calling 0818 222 024.