HEALTH and wellbeing within the GAA is well established and one area which sits within health and wellbeing is the GAA Social Initiative.

Established some years ago, the idea behind the programme is for GAA clubs to be doing more for the older people in their communities.

In a world where we can instantly link with people online, loneliness is becoming a growing concern, particularly among people who have less ability or opportunity to physically meet and interact with people.

Covid-19 and a year of restrictions, and times of lock-down has exacerbated this problem. Older people are one group who are most prone to this phenomenon, particularly in relation to accessing online activities.

Research has determined that loneliness and lack of social connections are as bad for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day (Holt-Lunstad, 2015).

Loneliness impacts our physical health as well as our mental health, and results in those who are most lonely being most dependent on the health care system. The research has spoken, but also on a human level we can probably all think of someone who may live alone, or who has little opportunity to interact with their community.

The Covid Community Response was a shining example of how local communities rallied- for their neighbours as lockdowns were imposed. Many GAA clubs have now an extensive list of people compiled as a result of their Covid Community Response Schemes. These can easily be utilised for continuing to support our most isolated neighbours in the months ahead.

The months ahead will continue to be a difficult period through which to link with those people who are isolated, for whatever reason. However, the response to Covid in our communities has shown that people are able to overcome many barriers, and GAA clubs have been excellent in finding new ways to reach out.

So what can clubs do? Clubs have done a variety of things to involve older people. Walking groups are a great way for older people to meet socially while getting some physical activity, and people can easily adhere to public health guidelines.

Organising small groups to meet-up for a cuppa and a chat in an outside environment is a great way to involve people, if physical activity doesn’t suit everyone. With our GAA indoor facilities closed, it is more difficult to organise specific indoor classes, but increasingly people have become more tech-savvy, so maybe an initial training event for those not yet caught-up with technology is a good idea.

Not that we are allowed to meet others from outside our household, we should make every effort to do so.

Lockdown has made everyone appreciate how much we miss meeting people, so hopefully this will spur us on to make the effort and “Make your Ceili” if it is safe to do so.

“Make Your Ceili” was the brainchild of Scotstown GAA which they adopted during lockdown to become “Make Your Call” – encouraging people to pick-up the phone and have a chat with their neighbours.

Volunteer Centres throughout the region also host a “befriending services” which allow people to volunteer to become friends with people, and also helps people who may be in need of some support themselves.

Itis worth looking at Age UK website for more information: https:www.ageuk.org.ukget-involvedvolunteerlocal-services-volunteer or for groups in the south, Alone.ie: https:alone.iebefriending-networks-ireland

As we become more hopeful that things will return to normal, and our GAA facilities will be fully operational soon; and the rush of activities that will inevitably happen, that clubs include activities for those people in our communities who have been most isolated over the past 18 months, particularly the elderly.

It is important that we plan our activities well, bearing in mind, what users can continue to use outdoor spaces if indoor space is in high demand? What activities can be held safely in indoor spaces allowing for a continuation of some social distancing? What are our older members craving – do we need to be providing high-level content, or is simply coming together in an informal manner much more beneficial to our older people?

It is always a good idea to ask people what they want, so maybe over the next few months is a good time to get some feedback, which will allow clubs to start planning for the autumn and winter months, which will hopefully see a lot more social interaction than last year.

TIME FOR A CUPPA… The GAA are encouraging clubs to think about events to bring those who may be lonely or isolated  together