Residents of nursing homes are among those who have been able to return to their communities thanks to a voluntary project in Co Mayo, a conference heard yesterday.
The project at Mulranny reversed a "sad, silent emigration of older people" who had to move far from their community to get care, the conference, "Caring for Older People at Home - a strategy for social inclusion", heard.
The conference was organised by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs and by the European Commission.
Dr Jerry Cowley said that, as a GP in Mulranny, west Mayo, "I found that very often my older patients needed a person to talk to, not necessarily a doctor, but simply someone who was available". The local community established a day centre but while this helped it was not a complete answer because in the evening they had to return to loneliness and isolation.
"Empty damp houses only served to heighten their sense of isolation, compounded by long winters, fear of dying alone, fear of robbery, etc."
He said poor housing contributed to bad health and this in turn led to a "sad, silent emigration" of older people from their homes in a rural area to faraway places (such as nursing homes and hospitals) where they could receive care.
A scheme of sheltered accommodation in Mulranny changed this. "Our residents come from the village, from surrounding remote areas, from old folks' homes and even from England. These are people who would not otherwise be able to return home. They all came from poor housing or crowded housing or faraway institutions. They were all born in Mayo, except for one emigrant who returned from London.
"We succeeded in reversing emigration and in the process we revitalised that part of the village which was dead. We ended up with a lot of happy people who thrived in their new-found environment and by bringing their own character have enriched the area with their presence."