Elderly people 'must be helped'

POSITIVE steps to integrate older people and help them overcome feelings of isolation need to be taken to help prevent suicide, Age Action Ireland said yesterday.

The organisation which represents older people has described the "trauma" and "loneliness" felt by some elderly people as a concern.

"A significant problem for older people is isolation and loneliness and they do get excluded, even if it's self-exclusion," said Paul Murray of Age Action Ireland.