Older people in Donegal are being advised to check their Seniors Alert alarms are activated during the Covid-19 isolation period.
Over 2,000 Donegal people currently on the government’s Seniors Alert Scheme are set to be offered extra telephone support during the pandemic.
A new befriending phone-call initiative is being delivered through the government scheme to check on older people’s wellbeing and needs at this time. The befriending scheme will be operated in conjunction with POBAL and ALONE.
The initiative requires users to test their alarms to ensure that they are still active. Monitoring providers or local community groups operating the Senior Alerts Scheme service will contact the user.
Frank Feighan T.D. for Sligo – Leitrim, North Roscommon and South Donegal is encouraging participants to check their devices.
“Test your alarm to ensure it is working. You will then receive a call back from your monitoring provider or local community group. They will ask if you would like to avail of a befriending call service through ALONE.
“It is really positive to see ALONE involved in this initiative as they have the nationwide capacity to provide this service, and of course they are well attuned to the needs of older people given the valuable work they already do in or communities.
“The ALONE Helpline can also be contacted on 0818 222 024 if you have concerns about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person you know.
“It is really important that we check in with our older friends and neighbours who may not be able to get out at this difficult time. I commend the very many people who are doing this in our communities already. This new befriending phone-call initiative will allow it to be done in a coordinated and organised way to ensure nobody is left behind as we deal with the pandemic”, Deputy Feighan concluded.
