‘Services need to adapt to care for older people’

The Government has unveiled a combination of measures which will increase hardship for the most vulnerable elderly in our society forcing more to turn to charities for help, it has been claimed.

Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said it would be the housebound, those living alone, and the sickest and poorest of older people who would suffer most from increases in the prescription charge for medical card holders, the abolition of the phone allowance, and changes to income limits for the Over-70s medical card.

“Older people are struggling to make ends meet as a result of the cumulative impact of a succession of austerity budgets,” said Mr Timmins.

“Many are part of a generation that did not spend money it did not have. Our concern in the wake of the budget is that the most vulnerable of older people may now be left facing even more difficult choices with dwindling incomes as a result of the budget changes.”

Seán Moynihan, CEO of Alone, the charity which provides support to older people in need, said the measures detailed in Budget 2014 will further isolate a significant percentage of older people.

Mr Moynihan said Alone was extremely concerned at the rise in the number of older people who will require assistance and support from both it and other charities.

“We see on the ground the impact of austerity on older people with a 23% increase in demand on our services last year and a significant percentage this year.

“Budget 2014 will lead to a substantial decrease in an already poor quality of life for some vulnerable older people.”

He said the rhetoric coming from the Government was that older people are blocking up vital medical services and are a burden on the welfare system.

“But the truth is that we have an ageing population, therefore the services need to adapt to care for older people and not blame them for ageing.

“The Government need to review their choices, they need to innovate, reform our services and not cut without reviewing the implications.”