'The Importance of Being Elderly' is a one hour documentary that will tell the story of how the elderly are treated in society.
Ireland’s population has been getting steadily older since the 1980s, so what services are available and what is needed to allow the older members of society live safely in their own homes. We will also hear from the people that support them by visiting and recording them as they carry out their roles.
The thoughts and opinions of those who support the older members of society will also be detailed during this pertinent documentary.
The programme includes recordings from visits to services nationally and locally, and the voluntary organisations that represent the elderly in Ireland.
Anne Dempsey, Communications Manager with Third Age and Seniorline tells of the wonderful work her organisation is doing while Patricia Rickard Clarke, Chairperson of Safeguarding Ireland says “we are light years away from what is needed to support the elderly in our community”, while Damien O’ Neill, Manager of Local Link Longford /Westmeath, talks about their invaluable service. The team joined Des Powell, an Advisor with Helplink South and the staff who answer the phones for elderly panic buttons in their offices in Athlone.
Deirdre Hunt of Athlone Community Radio, researched and recorded the documentary.
“We recorded on location in St Kieran’s Community Centre with the Active Age Group as they attended bingo and talked about issues that affect them, we also joined the local Forget Me Not choir at rehearsals. Sadly, elder abuse is an issue in our society and a very personal story was told by a lady who said her mum died of elder abuse," Deirdre commented.
It is the first time the story of elder abuse, what safeguards are in place in Ireland for our aging population and how the older members in society in Ireland are supported will be aired on radio.
The programme will air on Monday, April 26, at 5pm on Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm and will be repeated on Saturday, May 1, at 5pm.
You can also listen online on athlonecommunityradio.ie and the tunein app.
Athlone Community Radio would like to acknowledge the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland who made the production of this programme possible through the Sound and Vision Television License fee funding initiative.
