Kerry community groups unite to reach out to isolated elderly

A NUMBER of organisations in Kerry have joined forces to tackle rural isolation and growing suicide levels among elderly people.

Some of the groups involved in a new alliance include the Irish Rural Dwellers Association (IRDA), Rural Men’s Initiative, Kerry Community Transport, the GAA and Seancairde.

The move follows recent disclosures by the coroner for south Kerry, Terence Casey, that older age groups made up the highest number of suicides in his area over the past five years.