Loneliness is the main reason for calling the Senior Help Line in Co Meath, according to a report issued by the Summerhill Active Retirement Group and the North Eastern Health Board.
The help-line, established last February and sponsored by the health board, is the first of its kind. Ms Mary Nally, a co-ordinator of the help-line, said the service allowed older people to talk to someone their own age for the price of a local call. "Many of our callers experienced feelings of loneliness and isolation, and a number of them have literally no one else to call," she said yesterday.
Thirty volunteers from the Summerhill Active Retirement Group provide the service. "Older people constitute a valuable re source with their experience," said Mr Colm O'Connor, a co-ordinator for the help-line. "Our members [of Summerhill] were looking for a project to help them move about and be active."
According to the report, about 27 per cent of the calls were from greater Dublin, but the majority were from the north-east and midlands. Most were from first-time callers, and just over 40 per cent callers were between 65 and 75.
The help-line received 150 calls from February 20th to May 25th. Co-ordinators consider 50 calls a month significant, considering the limited advertising. Mr O'Connor said the number could rise during the holiday season.
Although the most common reason for calling was loneliness, about a third were for reasons such as family and financial problems, health reasons and fear.
In future other communities with substantial elderly populations in Cork, Roscommon and Limerick should help extend the service into a network available seven days a week. At present the help-line is available Monday mornings and Friday evenings. "On the basis of the traffic of calls to date, there is clearly scope to extend this service and to make it available to many more people," said Ms Louise Richardson, director of the United Nations International Year of Older Persons 1999. "At this time of year, many of our older population will feel complete isolation, and I would ask you to visit or contact those members of your family or neighbours."
The number is 1 850-440444 and is open Mondays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Fridays 7 p.m.-10 p.m.