Charities caring for the elderly are concerned Garda strike action could increase anxiety and stress for older people living at home.

Age Action Ireland are expecting a spike in calls to their national helpline if the planned strikes go ahead on four dates in November.

The charity said older people living in rural areas felt particularly vulnerable at the prospect of strike action.

"At Age Action we're hoping the industrial action doesn't go ahead at all," said Justin Moran, head of advocacy and communications for the charity.

"When elderly people ring Age Action, their most common issue is safety and security in the home.

"People would be concerned about whether there are contingency plans in place - if you're in rural Ireland and you have to dial 999, will there be someone there to answer the phone?"

Meanwhile, Seán Moynihan, CEO of ALONE, said the garda strike would have a psychological impact on many elderly people.

"Older people suffer the same amount of crime as anyone else but the effects on them are disproportionate," he said.

"They have more fear and worry around crime - sometimes because they are less able to defend themselves in case of an emergency, or because of ill health."

Peter Kavanagh, of Active Retirement Ireland, said many older people felt "a lot of empathy" for rank-and-file gardaí - despite their increased sense of vulnerability.

"We're aware that armed response units will be turning out, but everyone is a bit more vulnerable, particularly in rural areas," he said.

The charities encouraged friends and neighbours of the elderly to check in with them to make sure that they felt safe on strike days.

"We're urging older people not to be shy and to take the leap to ask their neighbours to keep in touch if they feel vulnerable or unsafe," Mr Kavanagh said.