IRISH COMMUNITY activists in Queens, New York plan on organising a census of senior citizens, following the death of an elderly Irish immigrant, Tony Gallagher.
Mr Gallagher, originally from Co Mayo, had been dead for more than a week in his apartment before anyone was notified. The circumstances of his death shocked members of the Irish community in New York.
"No one knew he existed. That's the problem. That's what we intend to change," said Ciarán Staunton, vice-president of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in New York. The group has urged the community to become more involved with the elderly by opening drop-in centres in the Queens area for all elderly Irish people.
The proposed centres would not only discourage such anonymity within the local Irish community, they would also help build a sense of camaraderie among neighbours with similar backgrounds.
However, Mr Staunton said the main problem would be the initial recruitment of the elderly into the centres. "The people who came here in the 1950s were a proud group. They pride themselves on not taking charity." He added: "We need to create comfort levels on a weekly and daily basis, which takes time. We are a long way away from that goal."
The group will be trying to model the centres on successful examples in England, particularly one in Leeds which has full-time staff. The Leeds centre caters for up to 200 people, triple the number currently availing of community services in New York. "People have been focusing so much on the Irish in England, they have forgotten about the Irish in America," said Mr Staunton.
The census has already begun, with volunteers knocking door to door, and working with community leaders such as priests in order to register the elderly. A local parish offers free lunch once a week for up to 50 people.
Mr Staunton has petitioned Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin for funding on the project. "Not too often does a Taoiseach get praised, but when Brian Cowen was minister for foreign affairs he was instrumental in funding services here. Now that Micheál Martin has stepped into Mr Cowen's shoes we have been met with nothing but a positive response."
The group hopes to meet with Mr Martin in January to further discuss the issue.