Address provision of care for the elderly

WE are an association of older people, whose deepest wish as we grow older is to retain our independence and, with the support of “needs-led and person-centred” health and social care, to live out life’s journey in our own homes.

What we fear most is that we may become one of the estimated 5% of the elderly population needing long-term or end of life care; provision for which continues to be problematic.

The views recently expressed by Tanáiste Mary Harney regarding the provision of and payment for the care of frail and vulnerable elderly, have succeeded in initiating public debate.

The appropriate forum for building consensus around issues with political and budgetary implications such as financing long-term care is National Social Partnership, on which older people are now represented. Energies should be directed towards identifying an equitable system for financing care and persuading social partners of its merits.

For the generation which bore the burden of the highest dependency rates ever recorded and contributed substantially to our current economic success, society has a duty to seek the implementation of an “equitable, efficient and affordable system” of financing care.

Sheila Simmons

Irish Association of Older People

Room B15 University College

Earlsfort Terrace

Dublin 2