Age Action has urged communities to step up their vigilance regarding their older neighbours, friends and relatives, as the longest cold snap in 45 years continues.

“With the sub-zero temperatures forecast to continue for the coming days, older people who are house-bound by the weather and who have not been receiving regular visits over the holiday period may be in difficulty when it comes to supplies of food, fuel and medicine,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said. “We are urging people to call in to their older neighbours to ensure they are safe and well. You cannot presume that another neighbour will do this – they could be expecting you to do it.”

The charity for older people received calls today from older people who have not been able to leave their own homes for up to four weeks because of the icy conditions and untreated footpaths. While local authorities have worked to make the main roads safe, footpaths, especially in residential areas, remain treacherous.

“Regardless of what preparations older people had made for the unusual winter cold snap, nobody would have adequate food and medical supplies to enable them get through the period of weather we are currently experiencing,” he said. “Unless their friends, neighbours and relatives contact them, some older people could find themselves in real difficulty.”

FOR MEDIA QUERIES CONTACT EAMON TIMMINS, HEAD OF ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS, AGE ACTION, AT 01-4756989 OR 087-9682449