Problems highlighted with panic alarms
The plight of those who rely on assistance call buttons was brought up at the recent Cavan Belturbet Municipal District meeting.
Cllr Patricia Walsh (FF) raised the motion detailing that she has had three phone calls from elderly people living on their own who depend on these panic alarms and are still without service to use them.
“They’re dependent on that [alarm],” she pointed out.
Cllr Brendan Fay (Ind) added that he too has received “several calls”, one of which was from an 86-year-old woman who is living on her own.
“It’s an absolute disgrace,” he fumed, adding that eir is reportedly telling customers the “council won’t give them a felling licence".
“It’s passing the buck,” Cllr Walsh added. The situation was described as “very unsatisfactory” by Cllr John Paul Feeley who said “we need to keep highlighting” the issue.
Cllr Damien Brady (SF) pointed out that the situation still persists in some areas over three months after Storm Eowyn took place; while Cllr Niamh Brady said that she was called about a “similar situation” whereby service providers told customers they had to “apply for a licence” before repair works could be carried out.
Cllr Áine Smith (FF) said “people are worried about the elderly” and suggested the button call system be modified to enable it to still make a call even though there is no signal, like in the event of 112 or 999 calls.
“Could something like that be done for those alarms?” she asked.
Cllr Walsh said this “could be something we look at.”
“People like to stay at home for as long as possible,” she continued, adding she was “absolutely disgusted” that “all these weeks later” the situation is still not resolved.
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