Many Irish in their 50s providing assistance to both elderly parents and children

The research also shows that the rate of hospital admission among older people has increased.

Many of those in their mid-fifties and older are providing financial assistance to their own elderly parents, as well as their own children, according to latest figures from a major study, writes Noel Baker.

The latest findings from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) shows that half of those aged 54 and over with living parents were providing them with financial help, while 48% of those in the same age category are also helping out their children with money.