Mayo information event: How we can best support older members of our community

ALONE, a charity which assists people as they age at home, is holding an information evening, in conjunction with Castlebar Mitchels Healthy Club, in An Sportlann, MacHale Park, Castlebar, on Thursday evening, May 4, at 7.30 p.m.

ALONE will outline the supports and services they offer to those aged 60 plus and what can be done to support local older members of our community. The talk will be for one hour, with tea/sandwiches served.

It is hoped those living on their own and those supporting older members of the community will attend.

This is an open event and all are welcome, including those not involved in the GAA.

ALONE will present on:

· Some of the key issues facing older people and the impact they have on a person’s physical and mental health.

· The suite of supports and services they provide to persons aged 60 plus, including coordinated support and telephone befriending services.

· Share information about tech available to older persons in stores and facilitate a tech demonstration of a device.

ALONE says that one in five people they spoke to for a survey last winter reported that they hadn’t been out socially in six months.

The winter of 2022 was a tough time for large numbers of elderly people. The days are now getting longer and the message to older people is ‘please engage’.

If people have lost that confidence, they can ring ALONE who will support them.

For some people Covid hasn’t gone away, and all of the physical manifestations – the signs about two metres apart – are still there.

There is still a lot of fear and anxiety for people who might have poor health outcomes. ALONE states that two out of every five callers to their National Support and Referral Line (0818 222 024) in 2022 spoke of experiencing feelings of loneliness.