A MAJORITY of older people live in their own homes and feel they are in good health, a large study of the over 70s in Ireland has found. However, two-thirds of those surveyed have no car and depend on friends and relatives to provide transport.
Research to be published in the next issue of the Irish Medical Journal and carried out by Dr Jane Whelan of the School of Public Health and Population Science at University College Dublin found 36 per cent of respondents have a long-term illness while 17 per cent of those surveyed live with either moderate or severe disability.
The random sample of 766 people aged 70-99 years from the southeast of the country were interviewed personally in their place of residence, including nursing homes and other institutions, in 2006.
Almost one in four lived alone and they were more likely to be female and less likely to have their own transport.
Two-thirds of those surveyed rated their health as either good or excellent.
International research has confirmed the findings in this study that, despite objective deterioration in physical function, self-rated general health in this age group remains reasonably stable.
Of those over 70 who were disabled, 40 per cent said they were not getting any form of community service in the home. Commenting on this, Dr Whelan said, “a substantial vulnerable minority of people with moderate severe disability . . . function without health board assistance.
“Levels of service provision are low in Ireland compared to other countries. A formal needs-assessment of the home care needs of older people in the community should be undertaken.”
Referring to the shortage of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists in the community, the author said that despite the setting up of seven new therapy schools in response to the 2001 Bacon report, “graduates are experiencing difficulty gaining employment.
“Despite much good news [in the study], a substantial minority of older people would benefit from additional support: rural transport schemes and smoke alarm schemes should be extended; [and] numbers of community therapists and access to home help should be increased,” Dr Whelan said.