Cuts causing ‘great hardship’ to older people

CUTS to health and social services and talk of means- testing the state pension are causing great anxiety for many older people, a leading charity has warned.

Age Action said the last 12 months had been a period of “doom, gloom and increasing uncertainty” for Ireland’s senior citizens, with the economic crisis hitting those on low incomes hard.

Chief executive Robin Webster called on the Government to take a more positive approach to the country’s ageing society, which now includes 500,000 people over the age of 65.