There is a heightened sense of fear among older rural residents because of the lack of policing services, particularly at night, reports Sean MacConnell.

The Irish Rural Link conference was told more than 13,000 older people called a low-cost helpline over the last year, which was set up to deal with all types of inquiries from elderly rural people. The helpline operates 365 days a year.

Loneliness and concerns about economic security

“Loneliness, financial and pension worries, as well as anxiety regarding economic difficulties being experienced by adult children, were among the reasons the calls were made,” said the organisation’s policy and communications officer, Seán O’Leary.

He told the delegates at the conference in Killala, Co Mayo, yesterday, emigration and limited job opportunities were leading to an ageing rural population that was becoming more at risk from poverty, loneliness and isolation than its urban counterpart.

Rural areas-oldest age profiles

The National Council on Ageing and Older People projected that rural areas will continue to have the oldest age profiles in the coming decades, as they were likely to experience static or steadily falling numbers of people under the age of 65.

“The national action plan for social inclusion shows that older rural women have less contact with others than older rural men,” Mr O’Leary added.

“Older people are less likely than others of having engagement in sports or social clubs or organisations, particularly in rural areas.

New senior alert scheme

“The lack of policing services, particularly at night, has created a heightened sense of fear, in particular among older rural residents.

“We hope the new seniors alert scheme – set to replace the community supports for the older people scheme, which provides funding for personal alarms – will have sufficient resources,” Mr O’Leary said.

The annual conference of Irish Rural Link, the umbrella body for rural community groups’ annual conferences, is being hosted by Killala Community Council and has taken as its theme “Challenges to Rural Wellbeing – Valuing Community in the Battle against Poverty and Social Exclusion”.

A discussion document circulated for delegates said poverty was more likely to occur in rural areas than urban areas. In 2008, the risk of poverty in rural Ireland was 6.9 per cent, significantly higher than in urban Ireland, with at-risk rates of 18.2 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively. The conference continues today.