Services for older people under threat, say groups

Services which enable older people remain living in their own homes are in serious trouble in many areas due to underfunding, it was claimed today.

Information gathered by social workers and other health professionals has found that funding for the HSE’s home help service is available in just one of 22 areas for which data was available, and home help hours had been cut in four areas and there were waiting lists in 16 areas, according to the Irish Association of Social Workers and Age Action.