National ageing strategy needed more than ever

YOUR editorial (March 25) calling for a national strategy to address the needs of our older people is timely. Those in authority need to sit up and pay attention, as a matter of urgency.

The HSE confirmed this week that the number of home help hours provided in January was almost 23,000 hours less than the same month last year.

Some 186 people failed to get a home help that month, while many more had their hours cut. Behind these figures are stories of real suffering for some of our most vulnerable citizens who are struggling to remain living in their own homes.