My own mother Maureen lives alone, and after undergoing major heart surgery, she was extremely vulnerable and needy. Thanks to the services of Home Help, she got her ‘meals on wheels’ and was visited often by the community nurse.

I did the best I could, as in I was working in a bank, and they were very understanding in letting me have some unpaid leave to care for her, but I could not be there 24 hours a day. It’s totally impossible.

Maureen is one of the lucky ones out there. Some elderly people have no-one to look after or care for them. It’s a terrible scenario.

Your parents raise you, and bring you up the best way they know how, and then the children can just forget they even exist. It’s a sad fact.
I met with some elderly ladies of late, who told me they were forced out of their own homes by their sons and daughters, who just got completely money orientated and didn’t care whether mam or dad lived or died. This society is becoming bloodthirsty and shameful.

Loneliness is a daily reality for thousands of elderly people who live alone. There are many reasons why an elderly person becomes isolated and lonely: the death of a spouse; recovery from illness; depression; change of neighbourhoods; immobility.

Whatever the cause, the effect is the same, a silent house, long-drawn out empty days, and the awful feeling that no one in the world cares!
There are lots of willing able-bodied carers out there, who are only too willing to help these vulnerable human beings.

There are people working to alleviate this problem, Friends of the Elderly Ireland being amongst the most prominent. They have over 500 hundred volunteers who call on people living alone or in hospital. These volunteers may be the only social call some people will receive in days.

Comfort Keepers– Home Care is a family-owned home care business that helps people stay in the comfort of their own homes when daily tasks become too difficult. People with disabilities, convalescing from surgery, or those who are frail and have long-term illnesses can all benefit from Comfort Keepers’ services.

No one needs to be alone. We all need company and caring and we all want to stay and remain happy in our own humble abodes.

Up to you, folks. Your parents brought you into the world. They deserve the best from their offspring. On my way to my own mam now. Pork chop on the grill!

For any more information, contact: Comfort Keepers at 1850 818 100.
Also contact: Friends of the Elderly at 25 Bolton Street, Dublin 1. Phone: 01 873 1855.