Positive discrimination to target old age pensioners living alone

The recent report into the treatment of senior citizens at a Galway nursing home is both terrifying and disturbing and made very sad reading.

It has demonstrated yet again that there are deficiencies in the care of the elderly, yet the vast majority of such homes provide an adequate and sometimes excellent service.

I would like to see positive discrimination which would target old age pensioners living alone and those over 75 in all circumstances; an effective community health programme providing sheltered housing for those in need, with the necessary back-up security measures; the provision within each community care area of proper geriatric assessment.