Press Release

Age Action has expressed its disappointment that older people were largely missing from today’s Spring Statement.

Age Action has marked the second anniversary of the publication of the National Positive Ageing Strategy by highlighting the Government’s failure to develop an implementation plan to develop the policies and services needed by older people.

Age Action would vehemently oppose any move to pass additional nursing home costs on to vulnerable older people or to put a charge on them after their death for any community-based services they need.

But the charity is disappointed at lack of additional funding for those seeking to go home.

Age Action is alarmed by the findings of the latest HIQA reports into the standard of care being provided at Aras Attracta in Co. Mayo.

Age Action is appealing for the public’s help to find the owner of a wedding ring, donated (presumably by accident) to its charity shop in Monaghan.

The scale of the challenge facing older people in delayed discharge hospital beds who are trying to either go home, move into a nursing home or receive other rehabilitation or respite service, is highlighted in a report published today.

Age Action has expressed concern at planned cuts by Bus Eireann to a number of its Expressway routes, and the impact these changes would have on older people who use the services.

Age Action has welcomed today’s clarification by the Minister for Older People that she is not seeking any increased contribution from older people towards the cost of their nursing home beds under the Fair Deal scheme.  However, Age Action remains concerned about the funding of the scheme and the impact this is having on vulnerable older people awaiting a nursing home bed.

Age Action has warned that if the waiting list and waiting times for the Fair Deal nursing home scheme continue to grow due to insufficient funding, it will result in untold hardship for older people and further disruption to hospital services.