This International Day of Older Persons ALONE calls on government to invest in Housing with Support
This International Day of Older Persons on 1st October, ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, is celebrating the contribution of Ireland’s older generation and encouraging the public to recognise the older people in their family and community. The charity is highlighting the importance of positive aging in the community and the provision of supports to enable older people to age at home.
CEO of ALONE, Sean Moynihan said, “With Ireland’s older population set to reach 1.4 million over the next 30 years, the provision of quality home care packages for older people is a necessity. ALONE believes that it is vitally important that the government invest in services and supports in the community to enable older people to age at home.”
In 2016, 20% of older people had issues with home adaptations and 10% were unable to keep their home warm. These numbers highlight the lack of housing choices and supports for older people in the community. ALONE believes that Ireland’s impending ageing demographic requires a move away from traditional models of care towards alternative models that harness community resources.
The charity has developed a technology platform, in partnership with NetwellCASALA, that supports older people to age well at home. The ALONE platform is operated through mobile apps and home sensors. The apps ask daily questions about health and wellbeing, with answers recorded on a tablet by the older person, and separately by a visiting neighbour, carer or family member. The combined answers form a unique pattern, and a change from this can trigger an intervention. Home sensors can detect if the resident has got up today, has entered the toilet or kitchen, and can trigger an intervention eg. raise an alarm that they may have fallen or are too unwell to get up.
Sean Moynihan continued, “A recent report by Active Retirement Ireland revealed that just 1% of their members wish to age in a nursing home. Our platform will allow older people to age at home safely. It will improve the wellbeing of older people, give peace of mind to their families, carers and volunteer support network and equip existing community supports to enable them to age at home.”
ALONE has been calling on the government to look at Housing with Support models for older people so that they can age in the community. While Rebuilding Ireland’s target for this type of housing is 50 units, the demand is approximately 4,200 units nationally by 2020.
For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person in the community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032. For more information about ALONE visit www.alone.ie
