Alone organisation seeks volunteers to support older people in their local area

Alone, the national organisation supporting older people to age at home are calling on members of the public in Meath to volunteer some of their time to support older people in their local area through its Telephone Support and Befriending service.

The service connects with older people who have requested a call, to provide friendship, advice and offer information on health and wellbeing, and how to get involved in local activities and relevant initiatives.

Six in 10 people contacting Alone report being lonely, and look to their services for support. One of the ways Alone does this is by offering their Telephone Support & Befriending services, but they need volunteers all over the country to meet the rising demand and to connect with older people who have requested the service.

According to Alone, this is an opportunity to support people in the community with all training and support provided.

Ireland is the loneliest country in the EU, based on an EU-wide survey by the European Commission last year and Alone is looking to combat this harmful condition that effects people’s mental and physical health.

In the first three months of 2024, Alone’s data showed that 17 per cent of older people newly contacting Alone had not been out socially in the past six months.

Alone CEO Seán Moynihan said: “We know from our own evidence that loneliness consistently ranks as the number one support issue requested, and it has a severe impact on our physical and mental health. We would ask anybody with a few hours to spare in their week to consider volunteering with Alone’s Telephone Support & Befriending service and help to support people in their local area who sometimes just need to hear another voice or share a story. This can be done from the comfort of your own home at a time that suits you.”

To find out more about getting involved see www.alone.ie/volunteer or call 0818 222 024.