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Older people in Ireland have had to deal with transport and heating problems during the Big Freezes over the past two winters. Photocall Ireland

Older people cold and lonely in rural Ireland - SVP

Older people in Ireland are being reduced to ‘siege of Leningrad’-type solutions to keep warm during winter, according to the SVP.

MORE OLDER PEOPLE living in Ireland are cold and lonely because of declining public services, a new report released by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul claimed yesterday.

Loneliness is the biggest individual problem faced by older people living on their own, while the cost of fuel is one of the main stresses of the elderly in Ireland.

The SVP said that loneliness amongst older people is particularly acute in rural areas. Declining public services, such as the closure of post offices and cancellation of other local services, including transport, has led to a reduced level of human contact.

Fuel poverty

In Ireland, rural older people are twice as likely to lack central heating and the researchers in this commission heard some worrying anecdotes from the people they surveyed.

The report’s authors described how older people were forced into almost ‘siege of Leningrad’ extremes to cope with the cold.

Some older people restrict central heating to a small number of hours a day or to just one room in the house. All important electrical appliances and the bed would then be brought to this central room.

Others said they went to bed for a few hours during the day in an attempt to keep warm or else wore heavy clothes while indoors. Hot water bottles are also used throughout the day in some homes.

The researchers heard how some men and women switched off their electricity once their free units were used up and, as one said, “then we freeze”.

The report also detailed how men did not wash so they could  save electricity through not heating water.

The situation has been exacerbated by older people having to live in larger houses that have been vacated by their children. Many of those surveyed said they would like to downsize their homes but were unable to find a buyer for their current property.

Hospital transport

Another major concern for older people in Ireland concerns the journey to hospital and other medical appointments.

The researchers heard numerous examples of older people obliged to make long, difficult and sometimes stressful journeys to hospitals at great personal expense. The problem was seen in both urban and rural areas.

However, there were also many reports of long waiting periods on trolleys – sometimes up to three days – when they finally reached the hospital.

Positives

The SVP found some positives from the report, which was commissioned to find out more about the experience of being an older person living in Ireland.

According to many of the respondents, growing old was seen as a positive development.  The message of the ‘active, fit’ old age has been firmly embraced, the report revealed.

Older people consider themselves much more fortunate than their parents or their children’s generation

However, those surveyed called on greater advocacy work to be carried out by older people, especially around effective policies to eradicate fuel poverty and a fairer pension system, including the re-establishment of the Christmas Bonus.

During the study, “Older people – experiences and issues,” almost 600 people were interviewed in 43 different urban, provincial and rural areas by independent researchers.

Download a copy of the full report here>

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14 Comments
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    Mute Pokey2013
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:34 AM

    Good for her! This really is a no brainer as an industry for the west of Ireland.

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    Mute Ciaran Farrell
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:07 AM

    It should be but this government through an uduras na gaeltachta company called arramara are trying to corner the market from erris hd to loop hd by applying for a license which would stop cottage industries from cutting seaweed in west mayo, Galway and Clare thus giving a monopoly. At the same time they are negotiating the sale of arramara teo to a private Canadian company. Think they’re holding out for a suitable price. 30 pieces of silver perhaps?Absolute disgrace and the deal being done quietly. This will shut down countless cottage industries and is getting little or no coverage.

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    Mute Hallie Burton
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:13 AM

    Another scam being played out on us Ciaran.

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    Mute Ciaran Farrell
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:52 AM

    It is indeed. The worst part of it is that in many villages on our western seaboard there are so few opportunities to ” turn a pound” that this will be devastating and nobody is shouting stop ( or at least nobody with influence on kildare st.). This is Minister Ring’s heartland yet he is strangely quiet for a lad who loved the soapbox when in opposition.

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    Mute Thors Big Hammer
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:42 AM

    Fair play to this woman and her drive to to be successful.

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    Mute Brendan Harlowe
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    Jun 9th 2014, 12:14 PM

    I think she flew in actually .

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    Mute Ben Gunn
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:55 AM

    It is not an either/or choice. To grow your business all markets should be explored. The Irish home market is tiny and many of our indigenous industries would simply fold without overseas sales.

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:14 AM

    Why would/should any business limit themselves to a single market?

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    Mute Dee4
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:14 AM

    well done to the lady, there are increasing warnings not to consume anything from the Pacific. Japan and even the West Coast of the US should be great markets for her

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    Mute Hallie Burton
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:12 AM

    We don’t eat enough of it ourselves.

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    Mute Hallie Burton
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:38 AM

    Maybe someone could tell us where ‘sea vegetables’ are on sale in locally? I can get dried product in the Asia Market in Drury Street and very nice it is too. Try this site for lots of info http://www.seaweed.ie/uses_ireland/irishseaweedfood.php

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    Mute Michelle Blessing
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    Jun 9th 2014, 11:54 AM

    What a shame we are exporting to a country that carries out horrific atrocities against dolphins and whales in Taiji.

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    Mute Frank
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    Jun 9th 2014, 8:36 AM

    Japan still has a market for glow in the dark seaweed.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jun 9th 2014, 9:37 AM

    Do you have a link for that, Frank?

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    Mute Frank
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    Jun 9th 2014, 10:46 AM
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