The Sage Advocacy charity has appealed to the survivors of institutional abuse to contact it for support.
The organisation has also encouraged people who spent time in a state-run institution to engage with its information and advocacy support services.
A free-of-charge and confidential national advocacy service for older adults and survivors of institutional abuse, which acts independently, is available to all survivors across Ireland.
Bibiana Savin, the CEO of Sage Advocacy, said a person does not need to have previously received redress to access this support, and there are no age restrictions.
“If you or any of your family or friends spent time in an institution such as an industrial or reformatory school, a Magdalene laundry, or a mother and baby home, or a county home, the team at Sage Advocacy is available for you,” she said.
“Sage Advocacy’s nationwide team of advocates will support those who need it. It could be with a financial issue, a difficulty relating to your housing, or something medical, to name but a few.”
Ms Savin said the trauma experienced by survivors is “life-enduring”, adding: “In many cases, the trauma is revisited in older age, where survivors experience difficulties in getting appropriate housing or medical care.
“The fear of being reinstitutionalised in congregated care settings such as a nursing home is real for many survivors.
“The relationship between the person and their advocate is one-to-one. The advocate has no other interest than to promote, support and defend each person’s voice and rights and will only take action that has been consented to by the survivor.”
Damian O’Farrell, the service project manager, said survivors coming to Sage all have different life experiences.
“Many of those experiences have been very traumatic,” he said.
"While it is difficult for people without that lived experience to comprehend fully the ongoing effects of childhood trauma on people, our advocates are highly empathetic, caring and make every effort to be mindful of survivors’ experiences and their ongoing support needs.
“Our focus is to ensure survivors are supported to access all services they are legally entitled to and to assist them in navigating complex issues such as housing, finances, returning home, decision-making and health and social care issues.”
A nationwide team of Sage advocates can be contacted at 01 536 7330 and by email.