Spend time with your elderly friends and neighbours this Christmas – McFadden

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has reminded everyone to spend some time with their elderly friends and neighbours this Christmas.

“As we rush around doing the last minute jobs for Christmas, it is easy to forget that many of our elderly friends and neighbours live alone and would really appreciate a visit. It’s the perfect time of year to spend some extra time with them and I would encourage young people in particular to drop in to their elderly friends and neighbours.

“Many older people living in the countryside may feel a sense of isolation and vulnerability, more so at this festive time of year. So, dropping into them will mean a huge amount; showing them you care, are watching out for them and reassuring them they have help and support nearby.

“It is hugely important that we support the older people in our communities and from the beginning of our term in Government, Fine Gael made sure to try and protect the elderly from the worst of the economic recession, particularly by maintaining the Old Age Pension rate. Now that the economy is recovering, we are able to ensure that older people feel the benefit. Across the country almost 500,000 pensioners are benefitting from a small increase of €3 in the weekly rate of all pension payments for those aged 66 and over. We have also increased the Christmas Bonus, the Fuel Allowance and are providing more funding for the Free Travel Scheme. We have a plan to keep the economic recovery going and ensure that the most vulnerable groups in society feel the benefit.

“Make some time for older people over this Christmas break. It is so important for people across all generations to spend time together and support each other.”