Worry among older people over pensions

OLDER PEOPLE are experiencing “a deep sense of worry and insecurity about the future of the old-age pension and other supports and services”, it was claimed yesterday.

The claim was made by the Older Bolder group, an alliance of seven Irish organisations that represent and work with older people. It was based on feedback from consultation meetings held by the group in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Sligo, Waterford, Tralee, Trim, Tullamore and Wexford between November 2008 and June this year.

The findings are contained in a report, What Does Positive Ageing Mean to Older People?, which was published in Dublin yesterday.

A principal finding was a “deep sense of insecurity and worry” among older people about the future of the old-age pension, the fuel allowance, free transport and home help following the over-70s medical-card cuts last year and the suspension of the Christmas bonus.

Older Bolder director Patricia Conboy said older people’s concerns about the position of their pensions would not have been helped by Minister for Older People Áine Brady’s recent confirmation that it was possible that the old-age pension could be cut in the forthcoming budget.

Ms Conboy said Older Bolder would launch “a major nationwide campaign to protect the pension and other supports for older people and we are urging older people to support the campaign and act now to protect their incomes and services”.

Older people “needed to be vigilant and ensure, through active campaigning, that the commitments being made by Government in the present climate are delivered upon”, she said.

Older Bolder’s members include Active Retirement Ireland, Age Opportunity, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Carers Association, the Irish Hospice Foundation, the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and the Senior Help Line.