RTÉ Political Staff
"I'm scared. I am nervous of it. I really am."
Jennie OConnell lives in Crumlin with her husband Sean. Both of them are
blind, and both have respiratory illnesses.
The threat of Coronavirus has added to their worries.
"I have been listening to the news and Im concerned because I have
emphysema and asthma, so I have underlying problems, and it does frighten me
that I might get it," says Jennie.
Sean is a diabetic, and suffers sleep apnea which is linked to a respiratory
illness.
"I feel the State could have done more. I feel the whole thing is about
money. Well surely people should come before money."
He told RTÉs This Week programme: "Us people with underlying conditions are
the most vulnerable."
"I did think that they should have done more when it was in China. I felt
they should have stopped unnecessary travel, and if they could have kept it
out of the country we could have missed it."
"The problem we have now is that it is in the country and we dont know who
is going to have it."
Sean and Jennie have a number of carers who help to look after them in their
home. They are also regularly visited by representatives from the charity
ALONE, which supports older people.
"Theyre lovely people, and they call to a lot of elderly people and people
with disabilities and they do home care for them."
"The problem is that it could be spread all over the place, and we could get
it that way" says Sean.
"Children will be grand, but it's the likes of people with health conditions
who are going to be hit the hardest.
The spread of the virus also poses a dilemma for Sean when he is out and
about. As a blind person, he is often offered help.
"People are very good with blind people, but the first thing they do when
they take you across the road is catch your hand, and I cant say to someone
dont catch my hand, you could give me the virus, when theyre trying to
help me."
The couple is now considering restricting visitors to their home.
"Three carers come in every day and different people drop in and out. My
daughter would come up from Wicklow and stay over at the weekend."
"Well have to sit down and have a discussion and see where were at," says
Jennie.
Sean is concerned about social isolation if visitors stopped calling to
their home.
"The fact is that its in the country, its very hard to curtail it."
"I like being out and about, and as a country person I was out and about all
my life."
"Id go mad if I had to hide in the house for two weeks or longer, and Id
be very reluctant to restrict people. But obviously if theyre in contact
with somebody that has it Id have to ask them not to call for our safety."
"Because if we got it, it could take us out," he says.
ALONE, the organisation that supports older people, has announced a national
support live, as well as additional supports for older people.
ALONE CEO Sean Moynihan says the line provides additional information
supports for older people who may have concerns or support needs
He said: "As the situation develops, as well as advice, information and
emotional supports, we will ensure every older person will have access to
food, medication, fuel, daily contact, and any other support that may be
needed.
Anyone who may have concerns for their own wellbeing, or that of an older
person that they know, can contact ALONE on 0818 222 024.
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