Cork wellbeing service experiences surge in monthly callers to its support line

Friendly Call Cork has reported a surge in demand for the service with over 4,000 calls made monthly, as loneliness and isolation remain significant issues among older people.

The free telephone support service, operated by Cork City Partnership, is seeking new volunteers to help with the high volume of calls made every month.

It comes following the publication of new research from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (Tilda) at Trinity College Dublin, which explored the impacts of social disconnection and its link to a wish to die among older people.

Depression

Out of the 8,000 people questioned, 4% reported feeling that they would rather be dead while 10% exhibited clinically significant levels of depression.

Friendly Call Cork was established in 2010 in response to the growing concern about loneliness and social isolation among older adults in the community.

Volunteers and staff members call clients at a pre-arranged time to check in on them.

The calls are usually brief, but can be extended based on the client’s needs.

Clients can self-refer or they can be referred by family, friends, or healthcare professionals.

The service is confidential and is available for older people and anyone feeling lonely, isolated, or vulnerable — including those who have a chronic illness or who cannot engage actively with the local community.

If a call is not answered, the volunteer will phone a member of the client’s family, neighbour, or friends.

They may also advise on other services available in their locality such as Meals on Wheels, dementia supports, day centres, or social events.

Volunteers

Friendly Call Cork is now seeking volunteers to help operate the service. Volunteers are offered flexible working hours and can work from home.

Support development worker of Friendly Call Cork, Fiona O’Rourke, said: “Loneliness and isolation remain significant issues among older people, particularly since the pandemic.

“These feelings can have a profound impact on both mental and physical health, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, and other health conditions. Cork, like many areas, has seen an increase in the number of older adults living alone, which exacerbates these problems.

“Friendly Call Cork plays a crucial role in combating this by providing regular social interaction and support to those who need it most.”

Friendly Call Cork coordinator Jacqueline Fitzgibbon said that the conversations during check-ins can cover a wide range of topics such as general wellbeing, updates on daily activities, concerns about health, or any other issues the client might be facing.

“Sometimes clients just want to chat about their day, discuss local news, or reminisce about their past experiences. The goal is to make the clients feel connected and supported,” she said.

Anyone who wishes to avail of the service or who wants to sign up as a volunteer can contact Friendly Call Cork on 021 430 1700 or

https://corkcitypartnership.ie/all-programmes/friendly-call-cork.