No reason why geriatrics couldn’t be given double-bed accommodation

DUE to the chronic shortage of beds for geriatric care, the Health Service Executive (HSE) will have to consider double-bed accommodation for elderly couples who seek it.

It is nigh impossible to get a bed for an old person and he/she will only be accommodated after months of waiting. Therefore, when the HSE has an elderly couple seeking double-bed accommodation, why not give it to them? Particularly if they are hale and hearty, with their only problem being that they can no longer fend for themselves in their own home?

During my years as a social worker in London, I never had any bother getting double-bed accommodation for such people. Why not in Ireland? The proposal would apply to rooms and not wards.

With many marriages now breaking up, it is a blessing to see elderly people clinging to their wedded bliss until death.

Happiness is where you find it. If elderly people are happy together in the double bed, who are we to separate them?

Noel Collins

St Jude’s

Midleton

Co Cork