Leafing through a tome for 3.5 hours a week can add almost two years to your life, researchers have found. Margaret Jennings talks to people aged over 50 about their reading habits Reading by the book to expand your lifespan.

It’s played across the US and now the paddle sport, which can be played by eight-year-olds to 80-year-olds, is growing in popularity here, writes Margaret Jennings.

The Government has been urged to ‘show us the money’ and resolve years of pension discrimination against women, punished for taking time out of work to raise their children.

The ‘Earn Our Vote’ alliance comprises of Active Retirement Ireland, Age Action, Age and Opportunity, ALONE, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament, Active Ageing Partnership and Third Age Ireland. These groups represent more than half a million people over the age of 65 in Ireland.

The advertising industry loves to suggest that retirement is one holiday after another but for many people, it takes time to get used to endless time and a limited budget. Margaret Jennings talks to the experts about how to approach life after work 

Consumers are being urged to shop locally this christmas — it’s the best way to support the economy and the ‘home team’.

WHILE lots of emphasis — and fear — is put on the financial implications of retirement, many people are left unprepared for the other losses that can be experienced when they close the door on years of employment.     

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has said extra state funds will be made available for security alert systems for elderly people following the abolition of the phone allowance in the budget.

Despite a litany of recession-era cutbacks on elderly people, Ireland has still been ranked as one of the safest and most supportive places in the world to grow old gracefully.

Active Retirement Ireland say they have received a number of calls from worried pensioners regarding the prospect of cuts to their weekly payment.

Postmasters have asked ComReg to intervene to protect phone customers’ ability to receive paper bills.

Cuts to income and services have left pensioners at breaking point, it was claimed today.

Like many of the best ideas, Active Retirement Ireland’s (ARI) ethos is deceptively simple.

The Fuel Allowance is to be reduced with the eligible season falling from 32 to 26 weeks for new and existing recipients, Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin announced.

ORGANISATIONS representing older people have said age should not be a factor in considering a candidate’s suitability for the presidency.

IF anyone epitomises active living in later years it is Biddy Geany — champion bowls player, bon vivant and all-round good sport.

GETTING fresh air and exercise has never been easier in Carrigaline, after a new outdoor gym for older people opened there this month.

OLDER people have been urged by Dr Martin McAleese to look at how they view themselves.

OLDER people will be badly hit by the halving of Government funding for special needs accommodation.

OLDER people are being urged to demand better healthcare from politicians knocking on their doors in the run-up to the general election.

Older people are being urged to demand better healthcare from politicians knocking on their doors in the run-up to the general election.

A senior citizens' lobby group, Older & Bolder, is concerned about the impact of many of the measures proposed in the Government’s four-year plan on citizens on lower and fixed incomes.

The 'Older & Bolder' campaign has said that a cut to the state pension would be "an assault on vulnerable older people".

2010 has been designated the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Elderly people on the State pension are heating just one room of their homes and avoiding buying new clothes to save cash, new research reveals.

The Government was today warned to protect the old-age pension in the budget or face the wrath of angry senior citizens.

Five major agencies representing people with intellectual disabilities are launching a campaign today against any cuts that might be made to their services in December's Budget.

THE Government was warned yesterday that it may never be forgiven for ending the automatic entitlement to a medical card for everyone over 70.

The Minister of State for Older People has admitted that there are still a number of issues to be ironed out in relation to the over-70s medical-card scheme.