How volunteers can help the lonely

SELF-ISOLATION is necessary to protect yourself and others from the virus — but it can be dangerous, particularly for those over 70.

It can lead to loneliness and can affect mental health. And being stuck indoors may mean you do less exercise, so keep your brain busy with reading and doing puzzles — and keep moving even if that just means a walk around the garden several times a day, or getting up and moving from room to room.

Some mental health experts recommend using this time at home to do a spring clean and sort out things you no longer want. You could also catch up on letter-writing or doing admin tasks you have put off.

For over-70s who are confident online, it would also be a good time to learn a new skill. Learning with Experts (learning with experts.com) offers a range of courses taught by industry experts in, for example, antiques and garden design. You can also group chat and direct message your tutor and online classmates.

If you’re lonely, the charity Friends of the Elderly offers a Friendly Call Service where people can receive a regular telepone call from one fo the charity’s trained trained part time volunteers. The aim of the call is to share conversation and offer support. The service is confidential and free of charge between the hours of 11am and 4pm Monday to Friday and is available nationwide. Email: info@friendsoftheelderly.ie or call 01 8731855.. You can also call Age Action Ireland on 01 4756989 or email helpline@ageactionireland.ie.

If you are worried about friends or relatives, William Keevil, a professor of environmental healthcare, advises staying in contact by telephone or, if they know how to use it or can pick up the skills quickly, by Facetime and other instant or video messaging services.

‘Make sure they are feeling well and receiving food and any medication they take,’ he says. ‘If the person has regular visits from support workers, make sure they can continue attending regularly. If the health visitors become ill, be prepared to bring food and medicines yourself. Leave these on the doorstep, or open the door and have a chat without going in.’

Volunteers are mobilising to help those who are isolated. For those in selfisolation, localsupport.ie has volunteers across the country who are offering help with shopping, dog walking and more.