A national dementia and alzheimer’s service improvement plan which was meant to be implemented by the end of this year will fail to meet its target.

Many carers are stressed about their financial situation while 10% of respondents to a survey said they did not receive any source of support in their role.

The majority of carers in the Republic of Ireland say other family members are their most important source of help, according to a survey carried out to mark National Carers week.

Delegates at a meeting of the Age Action group yesterday demanded an apology from junior minister Brian Hayes after he appeared to suggest that the free travel scheme could be curtailed in the upcoming budget.

There is a young carer in every community is Ireland, according to stakeholders at a meeting at a Dublin conference today.

THERESA HULME earns just slightly more than someone on the dole after giving up her job as a clinical psychiatric nurse manager to look after her intellectually disabled older sister.

PENSION increases in the budget are not enough to insulate many older people from rising food and fuel prices, Age Action has warned.

HAVING a teenager with all the demands of a toddler is how Rosemary Kratschmar describes caring for her 14-year-old son Sammy, who has Down syndrome.

LOBBY groups for carers have called for payment equal to the minimum wage for those looking after ageing, disabled or infirm relatives in the home.

SOCIAL Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan will today launch a report under the aegis of the Equality Authority which spells out the issues affecting carers and which highlights the urgency to get this vital sector of community care regularised.

CARE organisations yesterday gave a “cautious” welcome to the Budget.

CARE organisations yesterday gave a “cautious” welcome to the Budget.

WE in Care Alliance Ireland welcome the recent comments by HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm in relation to acute hospital beds.