Keep an eye on theelderly in heatwave

The entire community can help the elderly combat the dangers posed by the present heat wave by forming neighbourhood watch schemes to “keep an eye” on the most vulnerable sections of the constituency, leading North Antrim Ulster Unionist Mr Robin Swann has urged.

He called on the community to become the ‘eyes and ears’ of the elderly in the constituency.

Assemblyman Swann said: “Many of the elderly people in our constituency have given a life-time of service to their community and country. Surely in any democratic nation, we can afford this vulnerable section of our community the right to be safe in their own homes?

“Just as many elderly people had to overcome the atrocious winter conditions when they were forced between eating and remaining warm, so too, in the current heat wave, the elderly in our constituency are also at risk from heat stroke and dehydration.”

“The harsh reality is that the modern police service has a fierce workload and the elderly seem especially vulnerable to the effects of the heat wave.

“The police cannot be everywhere in the constituency, so we as responsible citizens have out duty to play, too, in the protection of the elderly.

“The elderly face many challenges in their twilight years, many in the elderly population are already having to face the winter challenges of staying warm or avoiding a severe dose of the flu; there are the added dangers of muggings and robberies, and now we have the potentially severe dangers posed by the heat wave. I appeal to the community to become the eyes and ears of the elderly.

“When people whom the elderly know keep regular checks on our pensioner community, then perhaps they will feel safer in their homes. As a society, we are living longer and therefore the number of elderly residents in the constituency is increasing. Pensioner power should not be limited to the ballot box.

“They continue to have a very valuable role to fulfil in our constituency by passing on their experiences and expertise in life to younger generations through residents, tenants and community associations, for example. But it is also imperative that these senior citizens have their human rights protected by being able to live out their twilight years in peace and safety,” said Assemblyman Swann.