Active Retirement Ireland has called on the Government to provide clearer guidelines for older people wishing to resume indoor activities in their communities as autumn and winter approach.
Maureen Kavanagh, CEO of Active Retirement Ireland, said that older people have been particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and they have been forced to isolate from family and friends, as well as limit social interactions.
“Thankfully, the majority of older people are now vaccinated but they are still unsure about what they can and cannot do,” she said.
“Some activities have moved outdoors but as autumn and the cold weather approach, older people have questions that need to be answered clearly.”
Active Retirement Ireland says that there must be clarification around when older people return to indoor community activities, what size groups of older people can get together, and if fully vaccinated, should older people continue to wear masks and practise social distancing?
“The recent Department of Health guidelines on Covid-19 offer very little clarity for older people who wish to return to their indoor community activities and events,” added Maureen Kavanagh.
“For many older people, these activities are their only social outlet.
“They have abided by the restrictions and will continue to do so, but we know that if older people don’t return to the full and active social life that they enjoyed before the pandemic, it will have a negative and long-term impact on their physical and mental health.”
