A community-based service to provide support and care to the elderly and vulnerable is to be extended to Finglas and Cabra in Dublin.
The award winning Friendly Call Service has already been operating successfully in Blanchardstown since 2005.
It offers a range of services such as a telephone call five days per week to check that people are well; a reminder about hospital and doctor appointments and medications; information on services available in their locality and social events to introduce people to the call centre staff and to encourage those who do not normally attend gatherings.
"This is a vitally important service that could save someone many hours lying waiting for help or could even save a life," Cathy McLoughlin, manager of the service said. "Trained call centre staff ring the service users every morning to check that they are well and to see if they need anything."
The staff of the call centre are trained by the Samaritans. "All information on applicants is completely confidential and we do not share their details with other service providers or with the management committee," Ms McLoughlin added.