THE SAD and lonely death of Alan Moore at his Wexford home during the Christmas period last year was a stark reminder of the need to check on our neighbours.

Mr. Moore’s remains were found in his house at Lower John St. three months after he is believed to have died.

An inquest in April concluded he died aged 61 of a massive heart attack at his home at 53, Lower John St., Wexford on a date unknown, but believed to be around December 28th, 2011. No family members or friends were in attendance at the inquest at the Talbot Hotel.

His badly decomposed remains were discovered almost three months later on Mother’s Day, March 18th, after a concerned woman noticed Christmas tree lights on through the front window. Gardaí searched the house and found his remains slumped beside his bed.

ALONE CEO Sean Moynihan said that people need to be vigilant for people who are cut off from their community like Mr. Moore was.

“I would ask people, (particularly at this time of year), to reflect on people who don’t have any family or friends. The most important thing we can do is to provide company and support for people,” he told South East Radio.

ALONE is a voluntary organisation which helps older people in need through a befriending service, housing and crisis support in the community.

Mr. Moynihan said 90 per cent of elderly people are linked in with their family and their community.

“10 per cent of people in later life, either through health or emotional issues, are cut off from society. These people are unique. They are cut off like Alan Moore. I would urge people to be aware of older people and to befriend them and support them. Social contact has a huge influence on mental and physical health. Isolation and loneliness turn into depression and have a more detrimental effect on the health of older people than smoking.”

He urged people concerned about elderly neighbours who are living alone and cut off from society to ring Alone on 01 6791032.

For the full story see this week’s Wexford Echo newspaper.