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ONE MAN WHO called the Senior Help Line last month described how he felt, saying “I am going mad with loneliness.”
The helpline has received over 6,000 calls already in the first three months of this year.
The biggest concerns for callers include the cost of living, cuts to services, instances of abuse and feelings of suicide.
The CEO of The Senior Help Line, Aine Brady, said that the most common factor among those who call is a sense of isolation and loneliness.
Callers have expressed their loneliness by saying “The house is so empty since Christmas” and “I have no contact with my family any more”.
The high volume of calls since the start of the year is a sign of the challenges that older people are facing.
For many Senior Help Line is their only means of contact with other people.
Callers have said “I find the days very long on my own.”
Listening
Brady said that,
“Regardless of age, we all have problems and worries. It is important to have an outlet, someone to talk to, to share those worries with.
For many older people, their trusted circle of friends has diminished and there is no one to share a worry or even the joys of life with.
“We urge any older person who is worried about issues concerning health, family or any other matter to call us.”
The Senior Help Line is Ireland’s only peer to peer national listening service for older people.
Brady explained, “A unique aspect of our service is older people listening to older people. This helps create an empathetic atmosphere for the caller helping them to open up and discuss their problems easily.”
However, for all the calls we answer, we know that many go unanswered. Our resources are limited. We are working hard to answer as many as we can and to be there for as many people as possible.
Senior Help Line is available 365 days a year from 10am-10pm.
All calls to 1850 440 444 are handled in strict confidence.
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Don’t assume your elderly neighbours aren’t lonely. Call round for a cuppa and a chat. Ask about life in Ireland back in the day and be amazed by the responses. Probably best not to mention gay marriage though
As someone who works with the elderly, you’d be surprised how many older people are lonely. Ive come across a lot of older people with big families who don’t see or hear from their family from one end of the week to the next. A phone call/a knock on the door can have hugely positive effects on someones day.
Sad to think a persons worth could diminish with time its a cruel world .. thanks for raising awareness the least we can all be is aware ..
How are the elderly going to contact anybody now when the government took their free phone from them? I know some who have had their phone disconnected altogether as a result because they are afraid they are going to be hit with a big bill.
There must be money from the EU that can be used to help these old people. In fact joint projects for youth and mature adults have worked really well in the north and england
They’re part of our community though. I’m not saying I’m any better, but in fairness all that’s needed here is people giving up a little time
Hopefully, we will all live until we are old. There are more medicines, better clinical outcomes. However, for too many of our elderly men and women, their ‘life’ becomes merely existence. Never a visit, someone to chat to, no one to call them by their name, to remember them as the people they are, no human touch. We should do more – way more – to keep our older people living at home, if that is where they want to be. It seems the more years we accumulate, the less value, power and individuality we are allowed.
I worked in the cash office for a utility company years ago, I remember lots of lovely elderly people who’d come in to ‘pay’ some of their bill. Usually they were in huge credit- one staff member pointed out that this may be their only chance at talking to someone all week. These services are hugely important and well done to all concerned.
Good idea Saul, and believe me you will be enriched by them.
I appreciate this my mum lived with us for 11 years 5 kids and always someone there yet I never thought it was enough I hadn’t the time to sit with her all day long she didn’t like visitors calling and if they did she didn’t want them to stay long! I think she wanted the people who were gone and we couldn’t help with that! Old age is very hard to know your faculties memory sight is going is dreadful!
I’ve lived with my grandparents since 2009 and sadly since July last year we lost my grandmother and he’s been very lonely since! I’d like to think when we get older there ill be people around willing to spare an hour in the day/week to help out the vulnerable in our communities! I can only imagine how my grandad feels after losing soul mate of 64 years.
I see this first hand with my father. None of my family really bother with him apart from me and my kids. He gets really lonely and depressed . I am in every day but he really needs others to chat to. It seems to be very hard for men. They don’t want to do elderly clubs or anything like that whereas his older sister Who is 89 is never home. She is off on every available outing and club there is. You have to make an appointment to see her :) . If there were more men’s interest clubs you would definitely get more men going. Also a lot of elderly people would go to events if they knew about them but many don’t. They don’t do Internet and just don’t know what’s out there .
Catherine, you may want to look into http://menssheds.ie an organisation specifically geared towards men of all ages, encouraging social interaction therefore combating loneliness. There could possibly be one in your dads area.
Allotments are also a great resource for the elderly, for everyone in fact. Nice little communities form and welcoming for all. If you request an allotment, county councils must provide one by law.
Yes very True .VvvvvvvvvTrue !!!!!
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