Rise in numbers of elderly seeking charity’s support; housing and isolation main concerns

The number of elderly people who accessed support from Alone grew by 12% last year, with housing and social isolation two of the main concerns raised by people contacting the charity.

Alone’s annual report for 2015, published yesterday, shows the charity expanded its services last year to cope with the increase in demand and the greater complexity of the cases on its books.

Last year the charity helped 764 older individuals through its three main services of support co-ordination, befriending service, and supportive housing programme.

The first of those helps older people who need extra support to age at home — it assisted 399 individual older people in need last year.

As for the main areas of need, the report found that housing was the primary concern for 39% of older people using the service, with social contact an issue for 21%, and physical health or mobility the main issue for 13% of people.

Other issues included elder abuse, personal care, mental health, and finance.

The befriending service is based on a one-to-one relationship between an older person and a volunteer. Last year 272 older people used the service, including 192 new referrals.

An isolated living environment was by far the greatest issue of concern for people using the service, followed by mental or emotional health, and feeling housebound or having limited mobility.

The organisation’s supportive housing service provides homes to older people who need a level of support and are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Last year it dealt with 112 people, with 17 new residents, including eight coming directly from homeless services.

Among this cohort the main issues for which residents received support were housing, followed by physical health and mobility, emotional and mental health, and social contact.

The report states: “In 2015 there were an unprecedented number of new housing allocations.”

Of the 17 new residents, five had notices to quit their accommodation and were in imminent danger of homelessness, while three came from unsuitable accommodation and one came from an elder abuse situation.

Alone chief executive Sean Moynihan writes in the report: “In Alone we believe that in order to meet the challenges that lie ahead we must plan now for effective, high-value, low-cost models of services that will improve the lives of older people for years to come.

“The issues we will face in the years ahead are complex and require equally complex solutions.”

Read the report at alone.ie