Press Releases

The cuts to Home Care services announced by the HSE today are truly shocking and tantamount to turning off the life support machine on services which were already thinly spread.

Patricia Conboy, Director of Older & Bolder said “We are already failing people who need home and community care services.   18 % of these additional cuts are targeted at home care services and represent a direct attack on old, young and disabled people in their own homes.  The cuts fly in the face of long-standing policy and clear commitments in the Programme for Government to develop...

Minister Kathleen Lynch TD finally went on the record today with a commitment in the Seanad to publish the National Positive Ageing Strategy during 2012, the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

Patricia Conboy, Director of Older & Bolder welcomed the commitment saying “The Minister has responded to older people and their advocates who have campaigned for six long years for the publication of a National Positive Ageing Strategy.  This campaign has been sustained through two Programmes for Government and over the tenure of three Ministers for...

Older & Bolder today welcomes calls from the Seanad to bolster the rights of older people. 

The Report on the Rights of Older People  published today by the Seanad Public Consultation committee  calls for wide-ranging legal amendments and makes recommendations that could really make a difference to the quality of older people’s lives.

Director of Older & Bolder Patricia Conboy said,  “We are particularly pleased that this  report calls on the  HSE  to carry out an audit of all community care services...

The President Michael D Higgins is today attending a seminar hosted by Older & Bolder to celebrate the links between young and old.  In an inter-generational show of solidarity young students meet with Older & Bolder activists to discuss how strong connections between the generations can create a stronger society.

Patricia Conboy, Director of Older and Bolder said people of all ages now need to make their voices heard about the sort of society we want to create.

“There is a lot of debate about the economy right now and that is right and necessary...

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.

“As the report states, the HSE is not legally required to provide home care services and this, in Older and Bolder’s  view  has led to a “poor cousin” treatment of home-care in Ireland. ...

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.

Patricia Conboy Director of Older & Bolder, said today, ‘I welcome the reported “ring-fencing” of Minister Shortall’s areas of responsibility and congratulate her on achieving the important protection of vital services in the areas of...

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. The Older & Bolder campaign ‘Make Home Work – The Right to Age Well at Home’ highlights the importance of developing community based...

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?

At a Press Conference today held in Dublin, days after the 2012 Budget, Older & Bolder Director Patricia Conboy said, “It is crucial that we protect what we already have in place. Older & Bolder are alarmed at the proposed cuts to community care homes and the danger posed to community care services by cuts in the Health Budget. I...

Deep concern for the welfare of older people – Older & Bolder respond to Minister Reilly
 
Responding to Minister of Health James Reilly's comments earlier today, Patricia Conboy Director of Older & Bolder said, “I am deeply concerned for the well-being of older people living in care homes. They hear Minister O’Reilly saying that public nursing homes are going to close but they don’t know where the axe is going to fall.  What is the plan?  It isn’t good enough to say that we need to save money and that some homes don’t meet...