Chief executive of ALONE, Seán Moynihan, is calling for action from the Government and State bodies.

Whether they call for an ambulance, reach out to primary care, friends or family or are alone, they need to make sure that they do not delay seeking help if they feel they need it, he told RTÉ radio’s Today with David McCullagh show.

Speaking on Newstalk, the chief executive of ALONE, Seán Moynihan, said the holiday period can be difficult for some people.

Pharmacists could be charging patients €20 to dispense medication in blister packs from January, a charge previously covered by the State.

In a campaign video entitled Why Should Catherine Connolly Be President Of Ireland?, clips are used of Mr Higgins and his predecessors, Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson.

Almost 11,000 people received a personalised needs assessment from ALONE, with 52% of them reporting loneliness, a report says.