{"id":11236,"date":"2019-12-02T12:43:00","date_gmt":"2019-12-02T16:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=11236"},"modified":"2019-12-03T10:44:37","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T14:44:37","slug":"public-urged-to-reach-out-and-help-elderly-over-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=11236","title":{"rendered":"Public Urged to Reach Out and Help Elderly Over Christmas"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ALONE service users Paul Hynes and Don Johnson. (Jason Clarke)
<\/figcaption><\/figure>The public have been urged to reach out to elderly people, as pensioners can face high levels of isolation and loneliness over the Christmas period.<\/p>\n

Many pensioners worry about warmth, shelter and essentials including food and medication, as well as health difficulties and fuel poverty during the winter months.<\/p>\n

Launching Alone\u2019s cold-weather campaign, the charity urged people to check on older people in their community.<\/p>\n

Tilda (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing), says about one in 10 older people have problems heating their home and nearly half have experienced problems with damp, mould or mildew.<\/p>\n

Sean Moynihan, chief executive of Alone, which supports older people, said there are pensioners who may need help.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor older people we are saying, if you need help, reach out to us or reach out to your neighbors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut a priority on heating, and spend your money on heating if we get a cold snap, because ultimately it\u2019s a health issue.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep moving, keep eating, stay connected. Stay linked in, and if you need our help in Alone, please reach out to us. That\u2019s what we\u2019re here for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the big thing that is going to happen this time of year, at Christmas time, is loneliness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be out on Christmas Day delivering Christmas dinners to people.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are lonely because they can\u2019t get out as much as they can at other times of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are people who may have financial issues because the heating costs an awful lot more during winter.\u201d<\/p>\n

He called for the Government to respond to the ageing population and those who are living on the basic pension.<\/p>\n

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