A.L.O.N.E.

ALONE is a charity organization in Ireland highlighting the plight of older people living alone. Founded in 1977 by the late Willie Bermingham to help elderly people living on their own who may feel isolated and lonely, volunteers visit older people and befriend them. The name A.L.O.N.E. was chosen as an acronym of the words; ‘A Little Offering Never Ends’.

ALONE 'works with the 1 in 5 older people who are homeless, socially isolated, living in deprivation or in crisis'.^[1] They provide Supportive Housing, Befriending, Community Response and Campaigning services to older people 365 days a year.^[2]

ALONE's Fundraising work includes The Key To Dignity campaign to raise money to provide homes for homeless older people.^[3]

In Glasnevin Cemetery there is the Alone Millenium Plot where the charity buries those who were unclaimed when they died and had no one to take care of a funeral for them.

In 2012 Alone celebrated 35 years of service.^[4]

History

In 1976 during a very cold spell and a few short weeks, eight older people were found dead in their Dublin homes.

Willie Bermingham (1942–90) – a Dublin fireman who discovered the remains of some of these forgotten older people – and a number of his friends, distributed posters to highlight that the over-60′s in Dublin were suffering cold, hunger, loneliness, depression and illness and dying alone. They began to collect and distribute donations of food, fuel, clothing and furniture. They initiated a ‘search that building’ campaign, drawing awareness to the plight of isolated older people who survived in derelict city centre buildings, where unscrupulous landlords often wanted them out to free sites for redevelopment.^[5]

ALONE’s first housing complex was built in 1986 (ALONE Walk, Artane) and the second (Willie Bermingham Place, Kilmainham) was opened in 1990. Including these purpose built units there are now 100 ALONE-owned and maintained homes where residents benefit from life-long tenancies with a minimal rent covered by the state rent allowance. Residents can avail of the Housing Support Service which aims to maximise their independence through flexible support plans.^[6]

News

2013 saw demand of ALONEs services treble. ^[7]

In August 2014 a charity single in aid of ALONE was released by DublinLabour councillor Dermot Lacey. The song The Ballad of Rosie Hackett was written by Lacey to commemorate the opening of the Rosie Hackett Bridge. ^[8]

In October 2014 criticism from ALONE on the Fair Deal Scheme waiting lists for older people waiting for Nursing Home places made headlines at RTE, Ireland's national broadcaster ^[9] as well as on Journal.ie.^[10] ALONE campaigns have also focused on austerity among older people.^[11]

External links

• Official Website

References