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Pictured at Clare County Library Ennis for the Bluebird Care Age Action Security Event were, from left, Teresa Carmody-O'Shea, Clare County Library; Pearl Nugent, Blubird Care; Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer; Kay Leahy, Bluebird Care MD and Sharon Malone, Monitor. Photo Arthur Ellis.

Elderly urged to be Safe at Home

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SECURITY concerns of the county’s elderly were highlighted this week at a seminar in Ennis’ De Valera Library aimed at helping people to be ‘Safe at Home’.

Pictured at Clare County Library Ennis for the Bluebird Care Age Action Security Event were, from left, Teresa Carmody-O'Shea, Clare County Library; Pearl Nugent, Blubird Care; Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer; Kay Leahy, Bluebird Care MD and Sharon Malone, Monitor. Photo Arthur Ellis.
Pictured at Clare County Library Ennis for the Bluebird Care Age Action Security Event were, from left, Teresa Carmody-O’Shea, Clare County Library; Pearl Nugent, Blubird Care; Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer; Kay Leahy, Bluebird Care MD and Sharon Malone, Monitor. Photo Arthur Ellis.

According to organisers, the seminar was such a success that it is hoped to make it an annual event. The Ennis event was the fifth in a series of nationwide seminars hosted by Bluebird Care.

Kay Leahy, director, explained the seminars have been organised due to the evidence of growing worries among elderly people about their security.
“There has been a 60% increase in calls to Senior Line, a free phone line for older people, worried about security at home. This is also reflected in our own network, as we hear anecdotal evidence from the thousands of older people that we work with on a daily basis.”

The Safe at Home series was conceived as part of Positive Ageing Week, organised by Age Action.
The seminar was open to members of the local community, neighbourhood watch schemes, residents’ associations and other interested parties. Kay said they were delighted with the turn-out at the free event and the quality of the speakers.

Among the guests at the seminar was crime prevention officer, Sergeant Joe Downey, who gave advice on how to stay safe. Sergeant Downey praised the work of local community alert groups and neighbourhood watch schemes and urged people to get involved.

He added that people should be “good neighbours” and look out for one another. He also gave tips on home security, alarms, securing cash and other issues. Sergeant Downey also warned people to be extra vigilant of bogus callers, distraction burglaries and possible scams. A representative of Monitor Ltd, an Ennis-based security company, also spoke at the event.

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