OlderandBolder's blog

Older & Bolder today calls for the implementation of the Law Reform Commission recommendations on professional home care and for a wider public debate on long-term care. 

Patricia Conboy,  Director of Older & Bolder said,

 “We welcome the Law Reform Commission report which takes a holistic and person-centred view of the care of older people.

Home Help services will be on life support

Older & Bolder is deeply worried about health cuts and the damaging effects these will have on older people’s health and safety.

Older & Bolder welcomes the imminent publication of the HSE Service Plan as the delay has led to anxiety amongst those who may bear the brunt of proposed cuts. While welcoming the reported ‘ring fenced’ funding of primary and community care services, serious questions need to be answered about the reported closure of up to 600 public beds.

There is no doubt this country is experiencing historically difficult financial times but Older & Bolder stress that the response to this crisis must never be one of expediency and those who are most vulnerable must not be made to pay for the country’s debts.

You can use the link below to listen back to Older & Bolder’s response on RTE's Drivetime (Friday 6th January) to the Revenue Commissioners announcement that 115,000 pensioners will have to pay extra taxes due to an under-calculation of their liabilities. Skip forward to 44 minutes 44 seconds where coverage of this story starts, Older & Bolder’s response begins at 49 minutes and 45 seconds

Older & Bolder today welcomed in principle the proposal by the Minister for Health James Reilly to establish a special fund to pay for services and facilities that would allow more older people to remain in their own homes rather than being moved to long-term residential care.

Presentation By Patricia Conboy, Director, Older & Bolder Friday, December 16, 2011 Buswells Hotel, Dublin

Older & Bolder is alarmed at proposed cuts to community nursing homes and the threat to community care services

“What will happen now to older people? Where are older people to live as they age?

Older & Bolder Director Patricia Conboy today said, “While I welcome the adjustment to the Universal Social Charge which will benefit people on lower income I am concerned about the effects of indirect taxes on less well off older people, charges like the increase in VAT, the introduction in the household charge, the increase in motor tax, the increase in petrol and diesel and the carbon tax hit those on limited fixed income hardest. Coupled with the measures announced in yesterday’s Budget, this places a heavy burden on a vulnerable group.”

Deep concern for the welfare of older people – Older & Bolder respond to Minister Reilly