Campaign to tackle social isolation of elderly people

MORE THAN a quarter of a million older people live alone and although many may be active and value their independence, a large number suffer from social isolation, a campaign group warned yesterday.

“It is vital that we all make contact with our neighbour to ensure that they do not become isolated,” said Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Vincent Jackson, when he launched Reachout’s social isolation campaign.

Reachout is a group of voluntary and statutory organisations and individuals concerned about the wellbeing of older people.

The organisation also warned that the death last summer of an elderly woman, who was not discovered for almost two weeks after falling in her Dublin home, was not an untypical incident.

Reachout chairwoman Pat Lane warned people not to assume everything was okay when they have not seen people for a while. “We really do need to become better neighbours,” he said.

Mr Jackson said younger people must remember that today’s prosperity would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of older people. “One day we will become that older person,” he added.

Mr Lane said social isolation was one of the main causes of poor health in older people and warned that those over 80 years were most at risk with more than one-in-six of this age group experiencing difficulty with many daily tasks.

“The cycle of isolation, depression and self-neglect can kill, so it is up to all of us to bridge the gap and make sure we include older neighbours and relatives in our lives,” he said.

And, said Mr Lane, it was the simple things that matter. “If you are going shopping, for instance, ask an elderly neighbour if they want anything in the shop. It only takes five minutes and the call will be appreciated.”

He also urged people to ensure that their neighbours kept warm. “Elderly people always worry about bills and they always worry that they will not have the money to pay them,” he said.