‘Share Your Warmth’ this Christmas

ALONE, the organisation which enables older people to age well at home, is once again urging the Irish public to share their warmth with older people during the Christmas period.

Speaking about ALONE’s Christmas campaign, ALONE ambassador and journalist Eileen Dunne said: “ALONE supported a record 44,000 older people last year - the highest number to date. That points to an enormous and growing level of need, especially with our rapidly ageing population. Christmas is traditionally a time when we reach out to those in need and those who are alone, and I’m urging people to do something really special this Christmas, and support ALONE’s Share Your Warmth campaign.”

ALONE CEO, Seán Moynihan, added: “We all like to reflect and reconnect at Christmas, and this campaign is all about sharing warmth and practical support with those older people who may be lonely, feel disconnected, have health concerns or heating and housing issues. At ALONE, we stay open throughout the whole Christmas period to try and reach as many of those older people as possible, but everyone can play their part in supporting older people this Christmas.”

So far this year, over 9,000 ALONE volunteers have contributed an incredible 229,192 hours of support to older people throughout Ireland. ALONE expects to provide 2,000 Christmas dinners to older people this festive season through its nationwide network of volunteers and partners. With staff and volunteers in every corner of Ireland, ALONE will call every older person it supports before Christmas to check in and ensure they have what they need.

Eileen Dunne hails that nationwide effort as “a lifeline for some older people this Christmas. While we all know that many older people will spend this Christmas in the company of family and friends, that’s sadly not the case for everyone. For some, their only visitor might be an ALONE volunteer. So, if you’re concerned about an older neighbour or relative, Christmas is a great time to reach out with a phone call or a knock on the door, just to make sure they have what they need – and sometimes, that might just be the conversation itself”.

Ms Dunne and Mr Moynihan were joined at the launch by an ALONE volunteer and an older person supported by the organisation.

Paying tribute, Mr Moynihan said: “Our volunteers and our staff are among the most dedicated and public-spirited people you’ll ever meet, and we’re immensely proud of them. We’re even more proud that, thanks to the efforts of ALONE and those who support us, tens of thousands of older people have received the supports they need to continue living safely and independently at home this year.”

ALONE will be providing supports throughout the Christmas season, ensuring help is available in every community across Ireland. Older people in need of assistance are encouraged to call ALONE’s National Support & Referral Line on 0818 222024, which operates daily from 8am to 8pm throughout the festive period, with an out-of-hours service available at all other times.

Teresa, an older person supported by ALONE shared: “My volunteer’s visits bring warmth and joy into my home, especially at Christmas. When someone takes the time to reach out, even for a chat, it means the world.”