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ALONE is a charity organization in Ireland highlighting the plight of older people living alone. Founded in 1977 by the late Willie Bermingham to help elderly people living on their own who may feel isolated and lonely, volunteers visit older people and befriend them. The name ALONE was chosen as an acronym of the words; ‘A Little Offering Never Ends’. ALONE 'works with the 1 in 5 older people who are homeless, socially isolated, living in deprivation or in crisis'.〔http://alone.ie/〕 They provide Supportive Housing, Befriending, Community Response and Campaigning services to older people 365 days a year.〔http://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/rediscover-internet-60-essential-websites-older-people〕 ALONE's Fundraising work includes The Key To Dignity campaign to raise money to provide homes for homeless older people.〔http://alone.ie/the-key-to-dignity/〕 In Glasnevin Cemetery there is the ''Alone Millenium Plot'' where the charity buries those who were unclaimed when they died and had no one to take care of a funeral for them. In 2012 Alone celebrated 35 years of service.〔(Charity for older people celebrates 35 years ) The Journal, July 2012.〕 ==History== In 1976 during a very cold spell and a few short weeks, eight older people were found dead in their Dublin homes. Willie Bermingham (1942–90) – a Dublin fireman who discovered the remains of some of these forgotten older people – and a number of his friends, distributed posters to highlight that the over-60′s in Dublin were suffering cold, hunger, loneliness, depression and illness and dying alone. They began to collect and distribute donations of food, fuel, clothing and furniture. They initiated a ‘search that building’ campaign, drawing awareness to the plight of isolated older people who survived in derelict city centre buildings, where unscrupulous landlords often wanted them out to free sites for redevelopment.〔http://alone.ie/history/〕 ALONE’s first housing complex was built in 1986 (ALONE Walk, Artane) and the second (Willie Bermingham Place, Kilmainham) was opened in 1990. Including these purpose built units there are now 100 ALONE-owned and maintained homes where residents benefit from lifelong tenancies with a minimal rent covered by the state rent allowance. Residents can avail of the Housing Support Service which aims to maximise their independence through flexible support plans.〔http://alone.ie/history/〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「ALONE」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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