ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE SENIOR HELP LINE
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE SENIOR HELP LINE FOR SUMMERHILL ACTIVE RETIREMENT GROUP
I was reading the Summerhill Active Retirement Club ‘Mission Statement’ the other day – and one of the points in the statement that jumped out at me – was your mission – “To have a ball!”. What really struck me was that it was in the statement at all! A lot of the time – clubs and associations will go to great pains to list out their high mission – their philosophically based charter or objects – which set out their ideal of the world and how they would like to see it for them. It was very refreshing to see Summerhill being so honest about their mission – a mission for which I am delighted to give my wholehearted support. I think it says a lot for the members of the Club – a lot about their attitude and positive approach to life.
The whole tenor of your mission is one of development and support for each other – and the empowerment of your peers in a society which has changed dramatically over the last few decades. With greater life expectancy rates – changes in family structures – and greater independence for retired people – you have a whole new set of opportunities - a whole new range of challenges and needs to meet.
Today, I have been invited to officially open the ‘senior help line’ – and I have to say that I am grateful indeed to Mary Nally for giving me this opportunity to be with you to mark the inauguration of a unique service in this country. In opening the line, I also want to pay tribute to you for your commitment to older people – not just in the Summerhill area – but everywhere in the country – because it is available to anybody for the price of a local call. The enthusiasm with which you have undertaken to pioneer this service in Ireland – and the willingness of your volunteers to operate the service – is an indication of the dedication of your members – and their willingness to help others in their own community and in the wider community of older people. That spirit of help and co-operation is a feature of modern Irish life – and can be seen in practically every corner of Ireland – as community after community – form partnerships and linkages with others – either with similar needs or with the wherewithal to address a perceived need in their own communities.
The readiness of Irish people to “lend a hand” – to put a shoulder to the wheel – and to make personal sacrifice for others – that is part of our makeup. For centuries, the concept of neighbour helping neighbour has been a feature of Irish life. With the trend towards the partnership approach – which is really a new manifestation of that age old tradition – people and communities are getting a new self-confidence in their own abilities – a positive “can-do” approach to solving problems and meeting challenges.
From the analysis of the calls that have been received since the service came on stream in February – where the biggest categories of caller are for reasons of loneliness and information seeking – it is quite clear that there is a great need for the service – that there are many who are facing challenges alone or with little assistance. By drawing in those who are lonely - or those who need help in relation to health or family matters – you are widening the partnership – and ultimately giving those callers an opportunity to contribute to the wealth of experience that the service will build up - as it progresses and spreads its focus to more and more people.
What you have here is the means to restore the element of personal contact which – to a certain extent – has been eroded with the changes in family structures and patterns. You are using the latest technology and putting it to good use – you are making the technology work for you – and using it to enhance the quality of life for many who would otherwise have to suffer in silence. In a sense – you are liberating a great wealth of talent and experience – and giving people the self-confidence and self-esteem that comes from knowing where to go if they need help - and from knowing that there are people who care enough to see them through a crisis.
I know that this service has come about as a result of an initiative of the Health Promotion Department of the North Eastern Health Board – and I would like to commend them on their role in bring this to fruition through the Summerhill Active Retirement Group. I would also like to commend the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs, and TIDE – the south Meath Partnership Board - who are also funding the project with the North Eastern Health Board. I know too that the service depends on something like 35 volunteers – and I would particularly like to thank each one of them for the commitment and generosity.
On the basis of the traffic to date – clearly there is scope to extend the service - and to make it available to many more people. In declaring the Senior Help Line open - I would like to wish you well with the service – and to express the hope that it develops and progresses for the benefit of many more people.