Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The House will soon rise for Christmas. I, like other Senators, find it important to be aware that Christmas can be a lonely time, rather than a time of celebration, for many people who are experiencing difficulties. I refer to the launch yesterday of the Samaritans Impact report. I am especially conscious of elderly people who have fallen victim to elder abuse. The House should send out a message to alert people that supports are available. We heard yesterday from representatives of the Samaritans that the organisation's hotline is extremely busy between the hours of 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. when other support services are closed. If people are in distress, anxious or need to speak to someone, the Samaritans are available 24 hours per day, 365 days of the year. It is important that people ask neighbours and local communities to be vigilant on behalf of older people who may be experiencing a difficult time or in distress. People are often too embarrassed to speak about elder abuse, which can take various forms, from physical and verbal abuse to subtle intimidation. It is important that support services are available for people experiencing this problem. In Galway alone, the Samaritans received 33,000 telephone calls in the past 12 months. The increase in the number of adolescents calling the Samaritans indicates that the problem extends across society. I commend the work of the Samaritans.