From the Home to the Dáil

Older & Bolder are today, Thursday October 18th, at the gates of Dáil Éireann, presenting signatures to a petition to Government calling for the immediate reversal of cuts to Home Help and Home Care Packages. 

Director of Older & Bolder Patricia Conboy, said, “Those in receipt of home help services are small in number but their response to the cutting of vital supports is loud and clear. In the words of one Dublin woman, “I could not survive at home without home help because I have severe and very disabling arthritis. Any cuts to this service would put my health and safety in jeopardy. These are cuts too far”

Patricia Conboy continued, “For many people dependent on home care services, street protests are not an option. With that in mind we have designed our postcard petition campaign so that people can lobby their local TDs directly from their own home. On Thursday, we’ll bring the campaign from living rooms and kitchens of Ireland to Kildare Street. Outside the Dáil we will showcase the strong response to these distressing cuts so far – through constituency visits, petition signing and online action - by older people, their friends and families.”

Patricia Conboy concluded, “Today we are making it clear that the withdrawal of nearly 1 million home help hours will devastate the prospect of safe and healthy ageing at home. We are determined to resist these illogical cuts.”