COFFEE shops located in hospitals are “ripping off” customers who have no choice but to pay over the odds, according to a leading charity.

A SIGNAL from the Health Service Executive (HSE) that it may hand over nursing and home care responsibilities to the private sector will serve to further destabilise and undermine the sector, a campaigning charity has warned.

THANK you for highlighting a social crisis among the elderly who live in rural Ireland.

CONCERNS have been raised over “care of the elderly” courses which are being offered by several private colleges nationwide as online “distance learning” opportunities.

THE HSE has “no idea” how many private firms are providing a private home care service to the elderly because they are not registered or supervised, it has been claimed.

ALMOST a year after disputing a report of “large scale inefficiencies and a complete absence of regulation” in home care for the elderly, the HSE is finally to begin a review into the standard of care being provided to 65,000 people looked after in their own homes.

FRIENDS of the Elderly are conducting a nationwide survey to find out the level of satisfaction with the quality of care for those who are regularly visited by professional care assistants in their homes.

Ireland's Grandparent of the Year, 100-year-old Dubliner Andrew O'Brien, is meeting the capital's Lord Mayor this afternoon.

FRIENDS of the Elderly has received complaints from senior citizens who have had their travel insurance cancelled after they booked their holidays.

It has been claimed that thousands of older people are facing an increased risk of robbery due to Budget cut-backs.

Maureen Armstrong, 83, from Thurles, Co Tipperary, who is set to be this year’s oldest Women’s Mini Marathon participant, is enjoying her celebrity status.

Friends of the Elderly are reminding the public not to forget their older neighbours this summer.