Let’s protect what we have [01/12/11]

Days before the 2012 Budget, Older & Bolder Director Patricia Conboy said, “It is crucial that we protect what we already have in place. This is the clear thrust of the messages Older & Bolder have been receiving as part of the campaign, Make Home Work – The Right to Age Well at Home.”

Messages addressed to the Taoiseach said: ‘Dear Taoiseach, I am writing to ask you to MAKE HOME WORK for older people by protecting vital supports from cuts, direct or indirect in the forthcoming budget. I value the following supports because they help me to live well at home: State Pension, Medical Card, Reliable access to community care e.g. Home Care Packages, Home Help, Respite Care, Day Care, and Local Transport.’

And in their personal messages people have highlighted to us how much they value supports such as the State Pension, the Medical Card and the Freedom Pass. Samples of these messages are included below:

Joan – Dublin (Postal) ‘I am grateful to feel valued as a citizen of 85 years – and because of my pension, etc.,  am able to live a full life, getting and accepting the help I need to do so. You were elected as one who would respect, value and care for older people – may you continue to do so in spite of the pressures and problems surrounding you.’

Margaret – Wicklow (Postal) ‘My home help comes every day for one hour. I am 96 years old, if I was to lose this service I would not be able to live alone.’

Margaret – Dublin (Online) ‘I am a widow and live alone.  Like many parents in Ireland I have children living abroad.  I want to stay in my family home as long as I can.’

Elaine - Galway (Online) ‘To cut support service to older people is a false economy!  Help them help themselves.  Living independently gives dignity to the third age and saves euros in the long term.’

Ms Conboy continued, “I understand the huge difficulties the government and indeed individual ministers face in this historically difficult and painful time for Ireland. But we must ensure that unfair measures are not introduced such as flat charges which are a crude measure for generating revenue; costs of collection are a burden in themselves and flat charges catch people on low income and are regressive in that they hit the poorest hardest. Supports such as the State Pension, public transport and Home Care enable older people to live at home and in the community. Where we can support older people to live at home, this delays the onset of disability.  Reducing such supports may create unnecessary dependency and force people out of their homes and communities. These supports enhance the fabric of our communities.  We should protect and build on existing supports.  If we cut back we will increase demand on hospitals and nursing homes.”